Bandits Control Appointment of Village Heads in Sokoto Communities, LG Chair Reveals

The Chairman of Isa Local Government Area in Sokoto State, Alhaji Sharifu Kamarawa has informed the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, that certain communities within the council remain under the influence of bandits.

During the minister’s visit to the local government secretariat on Thursday, Kamarawa highlighted the challenges faced in the region. “Here in Isa town, we are living peacefully. The problem is in the eastern part of Isa. There are places that are still under the control of bandits. They appoint and depose village heads there.”

He made a call for the establishment of a military camp in Kagara, noting its previous presence had helped stabilize the area. “We used to have a camp there before it was relocated. Then there was a relative peace in those places. So we want the camp back,” he urged.

The chairman acknowledged a decline in attacks since the death of notorious bandit leader Halilu Sububu about a month ago, allowing safer passage on previously abandoned roads.

In response, Minister Matawalle expressed the administration’s commitment to addressing insecurity in the North, stating that President Bola Tinubu was particularly concerned. He mentioned, “The President also directed me to ensure militarisation of all the danger areas in the state. So we are going to create a military base at Gundumi which will be patrolling Gundumi-Marnona road which remained closed for years.”

Matawalle reassured the residents of Isa about the deployment of additional security forces, emphasizing the collective responsibility in tackling security issues. “So we need your support because the issue of security is everyone’s business. We need to know about the bandits’ movement,” he said.