Sokoto locals pass vote of confidence on Joint North West Operation Hadarin Daji

BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto

Locals in some of the worst insecurity infested areas of Sokoto East Senatorial District have passed a vote of confidence on  the Nigerian security agencies for their commitment towards ending the menace of banditry, kidnapping for ransom and other crimes against humanity that have bedeviled their region.

The locals, who prayed for quick restoration of lasting peace in their various domains, lamented that the different forms of insecurity in their localities have not only rendered most of them homeless and poor but also left major marks of grief in their lives because of the loss of numerous loved ones.

Speaking to our correspondent on how the consistent prompt responses to their distress calls by the Joint North West Operation Hadarin Daji has been of great relief to them, Malam Hashimu Muhammed from Gandi town of Rabah local government said, only God will reward the security agencies for risking their lives for others to be at peace.

”Honestly, we have experienced series of bandits’ attacks in the villages of Rabah LGA. However, normalcy is gradually returning lately courtesy of the prompt responses of the Joint North West Operation Hadarin Daji”, he said.

Corroborating the position of Hashimu, Ibrahim Gatawa from Gatawa village of Sabon Birni LGA, said members of the Joint Operation Hadarin Daji led by the General Officer Commanding, (GOC) 8 Division, Major General Michael Mutkut have been laying down their lives towards restoring peace to their various settlements.

“Honestly, despite sharing land border with Republic of Niger, the North West Joint Operation Hadarin Daji, led by the General Officer Commanding 8 Division, Major General Michael Mutkut and his various Commanders like the Garrison Commander 8 Division, Brigadier General Alex Tawasimi and others deserves not only our prayers but also accolades for always being there for us,” Gatawa noted.

In Isa Local Government of Sokoto East Senatorial District that also shares border with Republic of Niger and Shinkafi local government in Zamfara State, Ibrahim Modaci from Bafarawa village said, they have gotten some sense of relief from the initial trauma unleashed on their villages and villagers by the now fleeing bandits, who used to strike at will before.

“The Joint North West Operation Hadarin Daji is restoring sanity thus giving our people some sense of safety from the consistent killings, kidnappings for ransom and the rustling of livestock by bandits who either come from neighbouring Zamfara State or Niger Republic.

“Lately, our people from Bargaja, Kamarawa, Tidibale, Gidan Sale, Modaci, Lugu, Tozai, Gebe, Bafarawa and even Gundumi villages where bandits use the long stretch of forest as their hideouts are gradually getting relieved from the onslaughts of these barbaric terrorists parading as bandits,” Modaci noted.

In Tangaza, Gudu, Illela and  Gwadabawa local government areas of Sokoto East Senatorial District, it was rains of encomiums on the Joint North West Operation Hadarin Daji, as Malam Kabiru Umar of Tangaza town and other respondents, further appealed to the Federal Government to explore the possibility of converting the Forward Operation Bases (FOBs) situated in these areas to permanent Military Barracks.

“At least, with that, the bandits will never think of coming to disturb these villages again because they are scared of the superior weapons and professional training of the Nigerian Military,” Tangaza enthused.