Niger residents mull ‘peace deal’ with bandits, say ‘government has failed’

Worried by the increase in attacks and failure of government to provide security, some residents of Niger State say they are considering approaching bandits for a peace deal.
Niger is one of the North West States where bandits are subjecting residents to torture.
In one of the recent attacks, a two-year-old girl travelling with her mother from Minna to Erena in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State was shot by bandits.
It was gathered that a truck conveying traders home from Minna Saturday market was attacked by bandits operating on Gwada-Zumba road.
Sources said the baby was in front of the truck when the bandits opened fire.
The driver of the vehicle and several other occupants were reportedly abducted while the baby was taken to a hospital in Gwada.
On Saturday evening, bandits in their numbers attacked Kaduna and other communities, less than five kilometres away from Gwada, where no fewer than four lives were reportedly lost.
It was said that a cop was among those who lost their lives in the attack
The communities attacked including Chiri, Kwakwa, Jewi and Kadna are less than 50 kilometres from Minna, the state capital.
Residents said they were gripped with fear as bandits had continued to move inches closer to the Gwada and Kuta, the two towns earlier considered safer which also housed IDPs from Shiroro and Munya Local Government Areas.
Bala Abdullahi, an eyewitness, who said he narrowly escaped the attack, said “Armed bandits took over road leading to Shiroro hydroelectric power station, rustled unknown number of cattle, kidnapped an innocent lady and one police officer was gunned down.”
Another source said, “Bandits have moved closer to Gwada town, causing panic among residents and Internally Displaced Persons.”
He said bandits in their hundreds invade several communities and for the first time have reached Tapila Junction of Gwada town, a suburb of Gwada, where over 4, 000 Internally Displaced Persons were camped.
Salis Mohammed Sabo, spokesperson of Coalition of Shiroro Associations, said “the terrorists continue to expand their tentacles even to the towns that were considered relatively peaceful. We now live at the mercy of terrorists.”
Bandits also reportedly invaded Kwata Market, a few kilometers away from Gwada, on Saturday where they robbed traders of their cash, mobile phones and food items.
Another resident, Shooaib Awaisu Wana, said, “abduction for ransom is the least of the heinous atrocities committed by these hydra-headed demons. We have lost count of the innocent lives terminated. We cannot recollect the amount that has forcefully been collected and valuable resources burnt to ashes.
“The Gbagyis, Kamukus and Kambaris that are known to be hardworking career farmers, have been chased off their ancestral lands. Famine and hunger are in the offing if something is not done to drastically nip the malady in the bud.
“Our urban centers that are at the moment safer, are filled to the brim with IDPs scavenging for survival, while the terrorists continue to encroach, threatening to take over our safer urban centers,” he said.
It was gathered from the victims that they had resolved to enter into negotiation to gain peace and return.
According to Shooaib Awaisu Wana, a resident, “The rate at which these terrorists are going, they might soon start collecting taxes to guarantee us security. Yes, this illegal and shameful; negotiation has indeed been implemented in some of the villages that are tired of running and waiting for the authorities.”
Another resident who spoke in confidence stated that “if this hardship persists, one of the decisions we are weighing is to call the bandits and negotiate with them to let us have peace, even if we are to join them because we are tired. If that’s what is going to bring us peace, we are ready.”
The Niger State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the attacks but was silent on the number of killings. (Daily Trust)