Despite the ongoing military offensive in Katsina and Zamfara States against criminal elements, bandits still have a firm grip on several communities in 24 local government areas of the two states.
The activities of the bandits are more pronounced in Zamfara where unofficial sources put the communities where the bandits hold the people to ransom at over 100 in 14 local government areas.
In Katsina State, LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that no council is currently under the control of the bandits, but they still hold sway in several communities in 10 councils.
A source in Faskari council of Katsina State alleged that about 32 communities have been abandoned due to relentless attacks by the bandits. He named the communities as Ungwan Dorowa, Ungwan Bika, Gidan Wakili, Kogon Kura, Gidan Saidu, Migyadali and Shuwaki, among others.
President Bola Tinubu had recently directed the minister of defence, the chief of defence staff (CDS) and other security chiefs to relocate to Sokoto to flush out bandits from Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina and Zamfara states.
Since then, the military and police have killed top bandits' leaders and arrested several others.
But investigations by LEADERSHIP Sunday in Katsina and Zamfara states showed that several communities were yet to be free from banditry.
Findings in Zamfara showed that majority of the communities from across 14 local government areas of the state are still under the control of bandits despite military onslaught where scores of them including one of the wanted notorious kingpins, Halilu Sububu, was killed.
Some residents said the military onslaught has led to a drastic reduction in attacks, but in some parts of the state, the bandits had defied the presence of the troops as they resort to guerilla warfare.
The locals said it was disheartening that over 100 communities from across the 14 local government areas were not free from bandits' attacks and exploitation.
They said that while some of the villagers had been forced to flee to urban areas for fear of continuous attacks, others who chose to stay behind were forced to live under the dictates of the criminals.
Our correspondent gathered that the most harassed villages were in Maru, Anka, Shinkafi, Maradun, Zurmi, Gusau and Bungudu local government areas.
In Zurmi council, the villages allegedly under control of the bandits are Gidan Kabbo, Tsakauna, Dogon-hako, Gidan duwan, Jididi, Asako, Gidan-Oho, Dunnu, Gwamawa, Gidan Labbobuzu, Marmaro, Takalmawa, Tukurawa, Sangamawa, Tataka, Gidan-Galadima, Gidan-Zago, Kadamutsa, Holuwa, Makosa, Judidi, Geza, Rinni and Dadan.
In Tsafe local government area, the affected villages are Munhaye, Dustin Kura, Kekawa, Yarzaiga, Sabon Birnin Nakak, Unguwar Gyauro, Matso-Matso, Magazawa, Kawasaki, Bare-Bari, Turba-Kuceheri, Marne, Maidagalo, Yar-tsakuwa, Garkuwan, Kofar Fasa, Sansami and Dankutau.
In Maru LGA, the villages under bandits' control are Madada, Bingi, Dandalla, Babbar Doka, Kabaro, Sangeku, Danmani, Kunjemi, Karauci, Gajeran Kauye, Saulawa, Randa, Kango, Balge, Gobirawan Cali, Gidan Ardo, Bulakke and Kilin,
In Anka council, the embattled villages are Rafin Sanya, Barayar Zaki, Rafin Gero, Karfa, Bawar Daji, Sunka, Tungar Kudaku, Matseri, Dankalgo, Matsafa, Nassarawa and Kawaye.
In Maradun LGA, the communities are Aljimma, Gwargawo, Kuzi, Ruwan Bado, Magamin Diddi, Gareka, Saurar Kade, Damage, Asarara, Burmi Gidan Adamu, Gidan Maidawa, Gidan Baushi, and Wari.
In Talata Mafara council, Ruwan Jema, Ruwan Gora, Dankalgo, and Ruwan Gizi suffer the same fate.
In Gusau LGA, the villages under the control of bandits include Madaro, Kungurmi, Dandindin, Burwaye, Burnai, Fankarfe, Dadin Zama, Bakin Dutse, Tungar Kudi, Ruwan Mesa, Koli, Buzaye, Lilo, Tungar Rakumi, Rijiya, and Kwarya Tsugune.
In Birnin Magaji council, the villages are Madomawa, Nasarawa Mailayi, Dan'Ali, Birnin Tsaba, among others.
Speaking with LEADERSHIP Sunday, the senior special assistant (SSA) to the governor on media and publicity, Mustapha Jafaru, said Governor Dauda Lawal has assured the people that his administration would do everything humanly possible to ensure that total peace is restored in the state.
The aide said the governor had made adequate arrangements with security agents to check the excesses of the bandits and to rescue the villagers from their control.
He said the administration of Governor Lawal had no plan to reconcile with the bandits or negotiate with them irrespective of their activities.
"The state government will squarely face them and deal with them so that security will be restored by the grace of Allah," Kaura said.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the state police command, ASP Yazeed Abubakar, said the police in collaboration with other security agents were doing everything humanly possible to ensure those areas suspected to be under bandits' control are liberated.
The spokesperson of 1 Brigade Command of the Nigerian Army (OPHD), Gusau, Lieutenant Sulaiman Omale, said he would not comment on any issue with regard to security because he was not directed to speak.
In Katsina State, the areas under bandits' activities are Faskari, Sabuwa, Safana, Kankara, Dutsin-ma, Danmusa, Jibia, Batsari, Kurfi, and Dandume.
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In Faskari, some communities such as Kadisau, Fankama, and Sabon Layin Galadima have resorted to negotiating with the bandits and paying levies to access their farms.
However, others such as Jarkuka, Ungwan Sakkai and Kampani remain under constant threats.
In Batsari LGA, communities such as Batsari Anabi, Garin Yara and Dan Kwalaso face similar challenges.
In Kankara council, Fanwa and Mabai are high-risk areas while Marke, Domawa, Maidabino and Dan Ali in Danmusa local government are identified as dangerous communities under bandit attacks.
A senior government official who sought anonymity asserted that the crime rate had significantly decreased following the deployment of additional security personnel in the region.
The Katsina State Police Command spokesman, Sadiq Abubakar, said significant progress was being made in combating banditry in the state, particularly after President Tinubu's directive for an offensive against the criminals in the North West zone.
Abubakar added that the command had neutralised several bandits, rescued many victims and recovered weapons and ammunition. He also mentioned that numerous suspects had been arrested.
