The chairman of Isa local government area of Sokoto State, Sharifu Kamarawa has lamented over activity of bandits in the state.
He lamented that bandits have taken control of vast areas of the local government, appoint traditional rulers and settle disputes among communities.
The chairman made the disclosure to the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle who was on a visit to the area on Thursday to assess troops’ performance.
According to Karamawa, “bandits have taken over parts of my local government area and act as traditional rulers, and judges.
“They have become authority of their own. They even mediate and settle disputes in communities.”
He explained that it is very painful, saying that they have no control or authority over their people in that axis, including his village, Kamarawa.
The chairman further explained that Bello Turji, Dan Bokolo, Garso and many bandits kingpin were moving freely and exercising their powers over their people without challenge.
According to him, part of his council area had become a safe heaven for bandits and other criminal gangs and pleaded with the Minister to come to their aid.
He stated that the bandits collect levy from and the communities at will.
He listed parts of the affected communities controlled by the bandits in Sokoto to include: Gebe, Kamarawa Arume, Bafarawa and many other villages along the border with Niger Republic.
He added that only one village named Gundumi is still standing, lamenting that all the other villages had been deserted along the 120 kilometer-road due to activities of bandits.
