Abu Sanni, a self-confessed bandit kingpin, says
insecurity has become a business everyone benefits from.
Sanni — who says he helped mastermind the abduction of
students of Government Girls Secondary School Jangebe, Zamfara — was interviewed
by BBC Africa Eye in a forest in Zamfara.
The 50-minute documentary titled ‘The Bandit warlords of
Zamfara’ was undertaken by Yusuf Anka, a journalist who crisscrossed remote
bandit enclaves in the state.
Zamfara is one of the worst-hit states by banditry. According to a report by TheCable Index, the state topped the list of reported killings in 2021, with 703 persons reported to have died as a result of insecurity.
The BBC documentary sheds light on the mindset of bandit
leaders, the booming nature of the kidnap-for-ransom business — and how
insecurity in Zamfara may have been triggered by ethnic conflict between Hausa
and Fulani groups.
‘WHY WE KIDNAPPED JANGEBE SCHOOLGIRLS’
On February 27 2021, Nigerians woke up to the heart-rending
news that bandits had invaded Jangebe in Talata-Mafara LGA of Zamfara and
kidnapped 279 schoolchildren. Some weeks later, they were released by their
captors.
Sanni said the schoolgirls were kidnapped by his gang as
revenge against the government for sending the military after them. He said his
gang demanded N300 million from the government for the release of the
schoolgirls but N60 million was paid.
“When the rainy season ended, they sent the military after
us. We decided to show the government they should not interfere in our
problems. We went to Jangebe and took the students. We wanted to get the
government angry,” he said.
“We demanded N300 million but after negotiations, N60
million was paid for their release.”
The self-confessed bandit kingpin said insecurity has become
a lucrative business, adding that everyone, including the government, is
benefitting from the violent attacks.
“Because it has become a business. Everyone wants money.
That is why things are deteriorating, from the top to the bottom,” he added.
“They say when there is insecurity, the government gets
money. Everyone is benefitting. We also get money. Though for our money, blood
is split, so it continues.”
‘I ONLY KILL — I DON’T KIDNAP’
Ado Aleru, a suspected bandit leader recently turbaned as
Sarkin Fulani in Zamfara, was also featured in the documentary. Aleru was given
a chieftaincy title despite being on the police’s wanted list since 2019.The
chieftaincy title sparked sharp criticism – a development which prompted Bello
Matawalle, governor of Zamfara, to suspend the emir who awarded the title to
Aleru.
Speaking in the documentary, Aleru said his gang invades
villages as a form of protest against the government.
“We only protest with guns. We know no journalists. We don’t
know where to protest. Our protest is to take up arms and storm villages,” he
said.
The bandit kingpin said he does not kidnap people,
adding that he only kills those who have been kidnapped by his gang
members.
“I have never kidnapped anyone myself. My men do that. I
only go and kill them,” he said, noting that he has lost count of the number of
people he has killed.
One of Aleru’s allies who was not named said the bandits
resorted to violence due to the alleged marginalisation of the Fulani.
“Tell me, where can we rear our animals? In your
investigation, are the cattle routes still there? In the rainy season, you have
to carry the cows on your head,” he told the reporter.
“You must walk on roads or take them on rocky paths where
they fall and die. Even in the forest, warplanes chase us and kill our animals.
“How have the Fulani become so worthless in Nigeria? There
is no veterinary hospital. We have nowhere for them(the cattle) to drink.
“Don’t cows have any value? Everyone needs meat. Everyone
needs milk. Many Fulani have university degrees, the government never considers
them.
“I swear, if 1,000 Hausas sit for an exam alongside a single
Fulani man, they will pass all the Hausas and fail the Fulani man.”
‘KILLINGS IN ZAMFARA CLEARLY A TRIBAL WAR’
Hassan Dantawaye, identified as one of the first bandit
warlords to import AK-47 rifles to Zamfara, said the alleged injustice against
Fulani triggered retaliatory attacks against the Hausa in the state.
Dantawaye, a former beneficiary of an amnesty programme,
said: “Everyone, the Fulani and the Hausa, have done something wrong. For the
Fulani, retaliation is their major problem. While the Hausa don’t investigate
who is guilty or innocent.
“We have policemen, soldiers, governors, chairmen, even
councillors, no one is stopping this situation.
“It is only when we launch an attack, they will say we
(referring to Fulani people) are wrong because they don’t see what is done to
us.”
A few months after he spoke with the BBC, Dantawaye’s house
was burnt down — an incident that made him pick up arms again.
He alleged that soldiers supporting the Hausa were
responsible for the attack on his residence, adding that the conflict is a
“tribal war”.
“This was done by soldiers, not vigilantes,” he said.
“How can [there be] peace with these transgressions? There
is one thing with us whenever we are called for dialogue, we honour it but
later our opinions are disregarded.
“In the whole world, nobody cares about our concerns. What
is done to us is not fair and must stop.”
Asked if the violent attacks are fueled by a tribal war
between Hausa and Fulani, he responded affirmatively.
“Of course. If not, how can someone pass other settlements
but burn down the Fulani ones? It is obvious, it is tribal. Why would a Fulani
kill an innocent Hausa? Clearly, it is a tribal conflict,” he said.
WATCH THE DOCUMENTARY HERE:
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