A vigilante member helping to fight bandits in Katsina State, Sa’idu Gambo, has spoken about the challenges they face.
Speaking in an interview with News Central TV, Gambo stated that the vigilantes often know where the bandits are hiding but lack the heavy support needed to neutralize them.
He said “when the air force is called for backup, they sometimes miss their target (the bandits) and, instead, drop bombs on empty land.
Gambo also said before he joined the vigilante group, he never used to respect vigilante officers and didn’t think highly of their work.
However, his views changed when bandits attacked his village.
He said the bandits kidnapped his sister-in-law, his grandchild, and his friend’s wife.
Gambo said that experience pushed him to join the local security group so he could help protect his community from further attacks.
In Gambo’s words: “We know where the bandits are, we need air support from the military but unfortunately when air force reinforcement comes, instead of attacking or dropping the bomb on the bandits, they find an empty land and waste their bomb.”
