By Aaior K. Comfort

Bandits have taken control of parts of Isa Local Government Area (LGA) in Sokoto State, assuming the roles of traditional rulers and judges, according to the council chairman, Sharifu Kamarawa. During a visit by the Minister of State for Defence to assess military performance in the area, Kamarawa expressed grave concern over the growing influence of bandits.

Bandits Control Communities and Mediate Disputes

Kamarawa explained that the bandits, led by notorious kingpins such as Bello Turji, Dan Bokolo, and Garso, have become the authority in several villages, including his own, Kamarawa. He noted, “Bandits have taken over parts of my local government area and act as traditional rulers and judges. They even mediate and settle disputes in communities.”

The chairman also highlighted the complete loss of control over these areas, saying, “They tax and collect levies from the communities at will, leaving our people in dire need of liberation.”

Abandoned Villages and Food Crisis Loom

Several villages, including Gebe, Kamarawa Arume, and Bafarawa, near the Niger Republic border, have been deserted due to bandit activity. The chairman warned of an impending food crisis, as thousands of hectares of farmland remain inaccessible to the region’s peasant farmers.

He called for urgent military intervention to free these communities, emphasizing the threat to both the local economy and the people’s sense of security. “Our communities are in shackles,” Kamarawa urged. “They need to be free.”