A suspected terrorist group said to be armed with sophisticated weapons is currently in control of Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, applying ‘strange laws’ and punishing defaulters.
According to PREMIUM TIMES reports monitored by our correspondent,
members of the group, believed to be from Niger Republic, are in possession of assorted weapons, preaching Islamic teachings, forcefully collecting alms (zakat) and flogging defaulters.
members of the group, believed to be from Niger Republic, are in possession of assorted weapons, preaching Islamic teachings, forcefully collecting alms (zakat) and flogging defaulters.
He stated that though members of the terror group are yet to be identified by name, and have been in the area for than two months, they are allegedly recruiting youth in a nearby bush. After ‘training’ them, they give them a motorcycle, he said.
The witness, who pleaded anonymity, said members of the group are more than 200.
He said they looked strange, spoke Arabic and wore turbans over their heads.
He said they looked strange, spoke Arabic and wore turbans over their heads.
“They imposed compulsory levies on each household with cows and rams.
Those with cows are paying N500 and those with ram are paying N200,”
he said.
Those with cows are paying N500 and those with ram are paying N200,”
he said.
“They are arresting and fining herdsmen who encroach on farmlands and
are keeping the money.
are keeping the money.
“They are operating freely, scaring residents, without being
challenged. They are going from one community to another,” the witness
said.
challenged. They are going from one community to another,” the witness
said.
Tangaza Local Government in Sokoto State borders Niger Republic.
The border communities of the two countries inter-marry and are identical and speak the same dialect.
The Sokoto State police commissioner, Murtala Mani, said on Friday that he was on his way to the area and would call back later in the day.
Also Sokoto police spokesperson, Cordelia Nwawe, said that the police
would address journalists as soon as her boss returned from the
affected area.
would address journalists as soon as her boss returned from the
affected area.
The spokesperson for the state government, Abubakar Shekara, confirmed
the report but said he could not provide further comments
the report but said he could not provide further comments
No comments:
Post a Comment