Banditry: Six residents arrested as mob burns commissioner’s residence in Sokoto

The Sokoto state police command says it has arrested six suspects for allegedly setting ablaze the residence of Garba Moyi, commissioner for careers and security matters.

Some aggrieved residents in Isa LGA of the state were said to have torched the commissioner’s house over his alleged compromise with bandits terrorising the area.

The mob also vandalised vehicles belonging to Nasiru Ahamad, district head of the area, for allegedly defending the activities of bandits in the area.

In a telephone conversation with TheCable, Sanusi Abubakar, the command spokesperson, said the police are investigating the matter.

“Peace has been restored in the area; the commissioner was there in person to assess the situation. We knew all the people that were involved and they have all been arrested,” he said.

He appealed to the residents to remain calm and cooperate with law enforcement agencies.

Abdullahi Hariss, a resident, told TheCable that the mob accused the affected officials of not showing enough concern in stopping the attacks by bandits in the area.

“People organised protest to express their grievances because they were angry over the incessant attacks by the bandits in the area and some of them thought these people (commissioner and district head) have a hand in the banditry attacks in the state or they have certain benefits they are collecting from them and that’s why they did what they did,” Hariss said.

“Most people have been arrested in police stations for attacking these bandits and they are not doing anything to put an end to it and that’s why people are angry that the commissioner for security and the head of the district do not take any necessary action regarding the incident.”

“They give bandits free movements, they don’t want anybody to kill them. Bandits would come to the town, do whatever they want and go scot-free because people have been warned not to do anything to them.”

He lamented that the bandits have terrorised the community numerous times without the government taking necessary steps, alleging that the authorities are covering up the matter from going to the public.

On Monday, the Sokoto government asked the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) to direct all telecommunications companies to shut down their services in 14 LGAs in order to allow security agencies deal with bandits migrating to the state.