Shehu Sani Raises Alarm, Says Bandits Now Taking Over Some Government Functions

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani has raised a fresh alarm over the effrontery with which bandits now operate and carry out activities in some parts of Nigeria.

The former lawmaker in a submission via his Twitter account on Wednesday said it’s a thing of concern that bandits are no longer just executing raids and attacks on innocent citizens but have now grown to installing traditional rulers and collecting levies in some communities.

He lamented that bandits now dabble into state functions which should be the exclusive reserve of the government such as collecting taxes, imposing fines, and installing religious and traditional rulers while those constitutionally empowered to take such actions seem helpless.

He wrote: “Bandits have audaciously moved beyond launching raids, abductions & extorting ransom; they now perform state functions like collecting taxes, imposing fines & installing religious & traditional rulers in rural areas. The constituted authority is losing its constitutional authority.”

In an earlier post also in which he referenced the general insecurity in Nigeria, the former Kaduna lawmaker had also sarcastically stated that while some institutions such as ASUU, NUPENG, and others are threatening strike actions, bandits are already ‘striking’ every day.”

“NUPENG is threatening to Strike; ASUU is threatening to strike. Railway workers are threatening to strike. Bandits are striking every day,” he wrote.

It will be recalled that Governor Abubakar Bello-led government has lamented that Boko Haram terrorists are in control of five communities in Rafi and Shiroto Local Government Areas of Niger State.

The development was disclosed by the Secretary to the State Government, Ahmed Matane on Monday.

Matane in his statement identified the affected communities as – Kurebe, Farina Kuka, Gussau in Shiroro LGA and Madaka, Hanawanka in Rafi LGAs of the state.

He further stated that the activities of the insurgents in these communities have forced residents of the communities to migrate to the safer part of the state and outside the state.

The SSG added that the terrorists are freely moving in the affected communities wielding sophisticated and menacing weapons.