Time up for bandits: Counter-banditry armed militia established in Zamfara

There are innuendoes that a new armed militia group has been established in Koyabana Forest, Dansadau District, Maru Local Government Area, Zamfara State, to serve as counter-force to the dreadful bandits in the state and other parts of northwest Nigeria.

It was highlighted that the new armed militia group would confront the bandits force-for-force to tame the kidnapping, killing and attack of farmers and innocent citizens.

The emergent militia group has the mandate to provide security for farmers to go to their farmlands and return home safely.

It was disclosed that members of the emergent militia group participated in Friday Jumaat prayer in Damdala community, about 15 kilometres from Dansadau town.

Members of the armed militia were said to keep long beards and perform their Jumaat prayer separately from other Muslims in the Damdala community.

The armed militia group were said to have counseled the bandits that rather than attacking and kidnapping poor farmers and preventing them from engaging in farming activities, they should face government officials with their guns.

The emergent armed militia, therefore, cautioned the bandits to eschew from further violence and crimes in Zamfara State, threatening to make life difficult for the bandits in the forest where they usually use as hideouts after their operations in towns.

The emergent armed militia is different from the conventional vigilante groups they were said to be well-armed and understand the bandits and their activities.