Apparently shattered by the loss of two of his sons to the superior power fire of the Joint Security Task Force, a notorious bandit leader in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, Alhaji Namata, has reportedly laid down his arms in exchange for peace.
In addition, and perhaps, out of shame, THISDAY gathered Namata, has immediately relocated to Dandawa village in the Munya Local Government Area of the state with other surviving members of his family.
This is as the Conference of Speakers of state legislatures in Nigeria, at the weekend, called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to designate bandits and kidnappers as terrorists.
This was the result of their about nine hours brainstorming on how to end security challenges afflicting the country.
However, in Niger, Namata was said to have turned over a new leaf at weekend in the Iburo community of Shiroro council area of the state, where he had led several of his men to unleash terror on innocent villagers after his two sons and some members of his gang were neutralised by the task force.
Namata, as a result, also gave up two AK 47 rifles to men of the Task force.
According to a report from the area, Namata and his group had been responsible for the several attacks in the area and his turning over a new leaf could bring some respite to the communities that have been under his siege for some time.
Sources, who hinted at his relocation, also added that he was into rearing cattle before going into Banditry.
But members of the Dandawa community have pleaded with the security agencies to place the “repentant bandit” on close watch.
Though some officials of the task force confirmed the development, THISDAY could not get the Police Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, to speak on the matter.
But the forum of speakers, while explaining that the declaration of the bandits and kidnappers as terrorists would pave the way for the Nigerian military, police and other security agencies to attack and kill the hooligans without any major consequences in international law.
The forum, in a communiqué read by its Chairman and Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Suleiman, at the end of its third annual meeting held in Katsina, the Katsina State capital, said their intervention had become necessary.
According to him, the meeting with the theme: ‘The Menace of Insecurity in the Country and the Role of State Assemblies to Restore Peace and Order’, and drew speakers from the 36 states of Houses of Assembly, aimed at discussing and proffering solutions to the nation’s security challenges.
“The conference call on the federal government to declare bandits and kidnappers as terrorists to enable security agencies to fight the criminals. This is not only to serve as deterrent to others but also to become the solution to security challenges facing the country.
“The conference while commending the governors, who have given assent to the fund management bills passed by respective state assemblies called on other state governors who are yet to do so to give assent to the bill for effective and efficient implementation of financial autonomy across the nation,” he said.
Seleiman, while reading the 5-point communiqué, noted that the conference decried the spate of insecurity in the country and resolved to work out legislative frameworks to complement the effort of the federal government in fighting the hoodlums.
He added that the conference also resolved to make relevant laws to address fundamental issues that could bring insecurity in the country to an end as well as create employment for the unemployed youths. (Thisday)
