Within the last six months, 446 persons were killed in Kaduna State as a result of the activities of bandits and terrorists, communal clashes, violent attacks, and reprisal killings. 285 were killed between April and June of this year, while 161 lives were lost between July and September.
Within the same six months, 1789 persons were kidnapped in the state, according to figures released by the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan.
But the troublers of the state were also given a deadly, bloody eye by security forces who felled more than 152 bandits and terrorists, while 100 of their camps were destroyed.
Details of the report showed that 985 were kidnapped between April and June, while 804 were taken away between July and September 2022.
It is not clear from the reports for the last two quarters what quantum of the number of those kidnapped returned safely home.
Presenting the security situation reports for the second and third quarters of 2022, the state’s commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, noted that there had been notable progress made since military operations were intensified in the State.
He added: “Across the six-month period reviewed, the following were highlighted:
-Scores more (of bandits) neutralized during aerial assaults on identified camps and converging points.
-16 bandits and terrorists eliminated in fratricidal clashes in Birnin Gwari and Chikun LGAs.
– Seventy-four (74) kidnapped persons rescued by security forces.”
According to him, arms and ammunition intercepted from bandits, terrorists and gunrunners in the six-month period are:
– Two (2) General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs)
– Seventy-four (74) AK47 Rifles
– One (1) AK49 Rifle
– Nine (9) Type 06 Rifles
– Four (4) Light Assault Rifles
– Four (4) Pump Action Rifles
– One (1) G3 Rifle
– Sixteen (16) Locally made Rifles
– Seven (7) Dane Guns
– Three (3) pistols
– Fifty-four (54) AK47 Magazines
– One (1) G3 Magazine
– Eleven (11) Pump Action Cartridges
– 5,398 rounds of live ammunition
Also, traffickers of illicit substances were apprehended and their stashes confiscated in the combined period:
– 654 Suspects arrested (613 male and 41 female)
Quantities seized:
-2,759.891kg of Cannabis
-6558.007kg of psychotropic drugs
-0.064kg of Heroin
Moreover, Aruwan noted that there were improvements in the general situation along major highways like the Kaduna-Abuja road.
He said deaths attributed to banditry, terrorism and violent attacks across Kaduna State have reduced in the third quarter.
“The same is true for kidnapped persons and rustled cattle.
“Collaborative efforts are yielding positive results. We are deeply grateful to the Commanders, Officers and Men of the security agencies working night and day to make things better for us all. We forge ahead, as a lot remains to be done,” he said.
▪︎ THE SECURITY SITUATION IN KADUNA STATE FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2022 (1ST JULY 2022 TO 30TH SEPTEMBER, 2022)
Introduction
The report presents an overview of the security situation in the state for the third quarter of 2022, alongside efforts of the Kaduna State Government to mitigate or remove threats.
The Ministry has continued to pursue its mandates of policy formulation and coordination of internal security in the state, while serving as a bridge between the Kaduna State Government and federal security agencies. Collaboration has been deepened and strengthened, to visible effect in the push against banditry and terrorism.
The statistics presented are generated from reports of security agencies – the Military (the Army, Navy and Air Force), Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kaduna State Vigilance Service (KADVS) – community leaders (ward heads, village heads, district heads, chiefdoms, and emirates) and credible human intelligence networks.
Through the publication of regular security updates, the Kaduna State Government continues to keep citizens of Kaduna State informed about the security situation in the state, and to check the spread of rumors, falsehoods, and dangerous narratives.
SUMMARY OF BANDITRY INCIDENTS FROM 1 JULY TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2022
This report presents the statistics of banditry incidents from 1 July to 30 September 2022.
The report covers banditry and terrorism, kidnapping, rape perpetrated by armed bandits, cattle rustling, communal and inter-ethnic clashes, violent attacks, and reprisal attacks. It contains statistics of fatalities resulting from these incidences, excluding deaths from homicide and accidents not connected to the crimes hitherto listed. It also includes statistics of persons injured in these attacks. The report shows the casualty figures by gender and their status as adults or minors. The report includes statistics of bandits/terrorists neutralized during engagements with ground forces (the Military, Police, DSS and other agencies).
One hundred and sixty-one (161) persons died in the third quarter of 2022, via attacks by bandits/terrorists, communal clashes, violent attacks, and reprisals.
This number comprised eight (8) women and six (6) minors (individuals below the age of 18).
In Kaduna Central Senatorial District, 120 of such deaths occurred (about 75% of the total). One hundred and eighteen (118) of these were recorded in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi, Chikun and Kajuru LGAs. There were 36 deaths in Birnin Gwari LGA, with Chikun LGA recording 30, Giwa LGA 21, Igabi LGA 16, and Kajuru LGA 15.
There were 21 people killed in the Northern Senatorial District during the third quarter (around 13% of the total), with seven (7) deaths recorded in Lere LGA, five (5) in Kudan LGA and three (3) in Ikara LGA. Southern Kaduna Senatorial District recorded 20 deaths in the period under review, about 12% of the total. Seven (7) deaths occurred in Kachia LGA, four (4) were recorded in Kagarko LGA, while Jema’a and Kaura LGAs recorded three (3) fatalities each.
Eight hundred and four (804) people were kidnapped in the third quarter, and 580 of these were recorded in Kaduna Central Senatorial District, about 72% of the total; all but one of these occurred in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi, Chikun and Kajuru LGAs.
One hundred and sixty-two (162) people were kidnapped in Chikun LGA, and 124 in Birnin Gwari LGA. Giwa LGA recorded 108 kidnapped persons, Kajuru LGA
103, and Igabi LGA 82.
Southern Kaduna Senatorial District recorded 160 kidnapped persons, with Kachia LGA reporting the highest number of 67.
The Northern Senatorial District recorded 64 kidnapped persons, with 15 each recorded inLere and Zaria LGAs.
In total, 215 women and 41 minors were kidnapped in the third quarter across the state.
Five (5) persons were reported to have been raped by bandits across the State from July to September 2022. Three (3) of these were minors. There are certainly more unreported cases of rape by armed bandits, and only reported cases are highlighted.
Two (2) cases each were reported in the Kaduna Central and Southern Kaduna Senatorial Districts.
One case was recorded in the Northern Senatorial District, a child in Lere LGA.
Citizens injured across the state due to banditry, terrorism, violent attacks, reprisals, and communal clashes numbered 94 in total.
Three (3) of these were women, and one (1) was below the age of 18.
Kaduna Central Senatorial District accounted for 48 of the total injured (around 51%). Eighteen (18) of these occurred in Birnin Gwari LGA, and 11 in Giwa LGA.
A total of 27 persons sustained injuries from attacks in the Southern Kaduna Senatorial District. Six (6) of these were in Jema’a LGA, and five each in Jaba, Kachia and Kaura LGAs. Nineteen (19) persons were injured in the Northern Kaduna Senatorial District, with four recorded in Soba LGA, and three each in Kubau, Sabon Gari and Zaria LGAs.
1,133 animals were rustled in the state in the third quarter, with 914 stolen from the Kaduna Central Senatorial District, accounting for about 81% of the total.
Igabi LGA had the highest figure of rustled animals in the period under review, with 506.
DESTRUCTION OF FARMS
Reports were received from various locations of farms destroyed by roving cattle in the third quarter.
The destruction of farms usually occurs in two ways:
▪︎ Cattle under the watch of itinerant herders
▪︎ Cattle rustled by bandits which destroy farms during escape.
In many instances, the cattle also feed on the growing crops.
In the third quarter of 2022, there were 86 reports received, relating to destruction of crops across the State, notably in Birnin Gwari, Igabi, Giwa, Chikun, Kachia, Jema’a, Kaura, Kauru and Zangon Kataf LGAs. The actual figure could be higher, taking unreported cases into account.
While the Kaduna State Government continues to ensure prevention, harmonious resolutions, and recourse to law, such destruction of crops has exacerbated tensions in some frontline LGAs, many times resulting in violence.
The Kaduna State Government is upholding efforts with local authorities and security agencies to ensure that peace is maintained.
OBSERVATIONS
With the intensified military action in frontline areas over the last few months, there has been a significant reduction in attacks by bandits and insurgents, as the figures indicate. Besides ground operations, many sorties have been flown by the Nigerian Air Force to further degrade the
capacity of insurgents and bandits in the third quarter of 2022.
Consequently, insurgent groups have not executed a successful attack in the state since the train attack of March 28 , 2022.
Individuals continue to interface with bandits and terrorists on behalf of victims, families, and other groups. Non-state actors (with a limited footprint) across the state also attempt to usurp constituted authorities with inaccurate accounts.
There are still malicious media campaigns, dangerous narratives, distortions of facts and misrepresentations of issues disseminated to mislead citizens.
Reckless use of social media platforms and insensitive reportage by sections of the conventional media continue to affect security operations and endanger victims and communities.
Links between bandits and terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP and Ansaru are firmly established. These networks are being investigated and members vigorously tracked down by security agencies.
Bandits and terrorists engage informants and collaborators to serves as logistic suppliers, couriers of arms and ammunition, and transporters of rustled animals. Criminals still enjoy protection from communities based on ethnic or religious considerations.
KADUNA STATE GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS
BANDITRY AND TERRORISM
● The Kaduna State Government has strengthened and broadened
collaboration with federal security agencies to visible effect. Vigorous clearance operations are being conducted by the military across several frontline areas including Kajuru, Kachia, Giwa, Chikun, Birnin Gwari and Igabi local government areas, The operations have been supported
closely by the Kaduna State Government with precise intelligence via the vast human intelligence network across the state.
● The scope of these operations is being expanded systematically to other frontline areas in the state.
● As a result of the vast intelligence network developed by the Kaduna State Government, many attacks have been thwarted by security
agencies.
● Bandits have been neutralized during engagements with forces, arrests have been made, stashes of arms and ammunition have been recovered and gun-running networks continue to be dismantled.
FARMER-HERDER/COMMUNAL CLASHES
In addition to the dedicated troops of Operation Safe Haven being deployed to the Southern part of the State, the Kaduna State Government has maintained peace building efforts at the grassroots, through the activities of the Local Government Peace Committees guided by the
Kaduna State Peace Commission.
These activities are geared towards ensuring that communities eschew violence and live together in harmony, irrespective of basic differences.
The Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs has demystified many security issues by releasing periodic security updates for the information of the public. This step helps curb the harmful spread of fake news, malicious rumors and misinformation on matters of security. The government as the only authoritative source of accurate information from security agencies, releases these to the public to help citizens make more rational decisions especially at community level.
BANDITS/TERRORISTS NEUTRALIZED
In the third quarter of 2022, a total of 93 bandits/terrorists were neutralized during engagements with ground forces (Military and Police) at the following locations:
Falgore, Kubau LGA; Saminaka, Lere LGA; Randagi Farin Ruwa and Kuyello in Birnin Gwari LGA; Yadi, Kidandan, Hayin Kogi and Galadimawa, Giwa LGA; Kidunu, Apewuhe and Galbi, Chikun LGA; Fandisho, and Daban Lawal Kwalba, Igabi LGA; Doka and Kujama, Kajuru LGA; Gidanwaya, Jema’a LGA; Ungwan Haske, Kauru LGA.
Multiple scores of of bandits were neutralized by air strikes carried out around the Kawara forest, Igabi LGA, Gbayi rock, Kagarko LGA, as well as in Kachia, Birnin Gwari, Chikun and Giwa LGAs. Many bandit camps were destroyed. Noteworthy among such missions was a clearance operation by troops of Operation Forest Sanity in mid-September, when troops neutralized well over a dozen insurgents at camps in Apewohe, Chikun LGA, and Daban Lawal Kwalba in Igabi LGA . After the camps were cleared, ten hostages were found chained and bound with ropes, and were rescued by the troops.
Also hugely consequential are the fratricidal clashes between bandits and terrorists which occurred in Kuyello and Damari areas of Birnin Gwari LGA, between July and September 2022. These deadly battles led to the elimination of sixteen (16)fighters on both sides.
ARMS AND AMMUNITION INTERCEPTED
In the third quarter of 2022, gunrunners were intercepted with the following quantities of arms and ammunition recovered:
ARMS:
2 General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs)
22 AK 47 rifles
1 Type 06 assault rifle
11 Locally made rifles
5 Dane guns
1 Pistol
AMMUNITION:
36 AK47 magazines
1 G3 Magazine
11 Pump action cartridges
3,744 rounds of live ammunition.
Kaduna State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested several suspects (traffickers and users) and seized an array of
substances across the state during the period under review. These are broken down as follows:
Suspects arrested– 375 (349 males and 26 females)
Substances seized:
Cannabis – 1,762.783kg
Cocaine– 0.1kg
Heroin– 0.029kg
Tramadol – 25.466kg
Methamphetamine– 0.013kg
Psychotropic Substances – 3,884.717kg.
CONCLUSION
The Kaduna State Government has maintained a holistic approach to security management. Federal security agencies receive an expanded range of support and close collaboration in their operations. Non-kinetic efforts and peacebuilding engagements have also been emphasized.
Strengthening of intelligence networks has been intensified, towards ensuring that action agencies gain the momentum, and remain ahead in the fight against terrorism in the State.
The Kaduna State Government has continued to offer extensive and crucial recommendations in key engagements across relevant layers of government
and the security infrastructure, to ensure that the right steps are taken against terrorism in the State and region.
The volunteering of useful information on incidents, suspicious activities, or hideouts, for action by security agencies is still solicited, through the State’s 24-hour Security Operations Room on the phone lines: 09034000060 and 08170189999. Citizens are also encouraged to follow the social media pages of the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs for regular security updates.
Signed.
Samuel Aruwan
