Yesterday, the Defence Headquarters announced a list of the 19 most wanted terrorist kingpins and commanders, including legendary bandit leaders Bello Turji and Ado Aliero, who had been terrorizing states in the North West, particularly Zamfara and Katsina.
DHQ also announced the availability of a N5 million prize for information leading to the location and arrest of each terrorist commander.
Some security professionals and regional socio-political groupings, such as retired Col StanLabo, former DSS Director Mike Ejiofor, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, and the Middle Belt Forum, MBF, supported the release of the list of terrorists.
Although Col Stan-Labo applauded the development, he deemed the N5 million reward for information on each of the wanted terrorists to be insufficient.
Yesterday, photographs of the terrorists, together with their identities and countries of origin, were displayed at military and security installations, including the Defense headquarters in Abuja, along with phone numbers for information distribution.
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Sani Dangote is from Dumburum Village, Zurmi Local Government Area, Zamfara State; Bello Turji Gudda is from Fakai Village, Shinkafi LGA, Zamfara State; Alhaji Ado Aliero is from Yankuzo Village, Tsafe LGA, Zamfara State; Monore is from Yantumaki Village, Danmusa LGA, Katsina State; and Leko is from Muzoji Village Matazu Local Government Area in Katsina State; and Dogo Nahali from Yar Tsavtyar Jino Village, Kankara Local Government Area, Katsina State.
Halilu Sububu, from Sububu Village in Maradun LGA of Zamfara State; Nasanda, from Kwashabawa Village in Zurmi LGA of Zamfara State; Isa Kwashen Garwa, from Kamfarin Daudawa Village in Faskari LGA of Kastsina State; Ali Kachala, aka Ali Kawaje, from Kuyambaka vIllage in Dansadau District, Mar
The list also includes Nagona from Angwan Galadima Village in Isa LGA of Sokoto State, Abu Radde from Varanda Village in Batsari LGA of Katsina State, Dan-Da from Varanda Village in Batsari LGA of Katsina State, Mamudu Tainange from Varanda Village in Batsari LGA of Katsina State, Umaru Dan Nigeria from Rafi Village, Mada District in Gusau L
Call 09135904467 if you have any information, the DHQ list stated.
Col. Stan-Labo deemed a N5m prize insufficient
Col. Hassan Stan-Labo, ret., a former Army intelligence officer, responded to the list yesterday by stating that, given the present value of the naira, the ransom of N5 million is inadequate.
He stated that such a ludicrous sum of money might not inspire anybody to reveal information regarding suspected terrorist kingpins.
“These wanted terrorists live among us in the communities, placing ransom on them can make people that are busy hiding them to have a change of mind to surrender them to the appropriate authorities.
“But placing N5 million on terrorist kingpins is not money. There are people who will overlook that kind of money because N5 million in today’s highly devalued Nigeria naira is nothing. If you want to place ransom, you have to make it difficult for anybody to look away. I expect to hear something like N50 million, then whoever is hiding these notorious terrorists will think twice.”
He cautioned both the military troops and the general public to handle the information with care, stating, that the general populace that wishes to assist security agencies should not treat the information in such a way that the entire neighborhood will know who provided it. Col. Stan-Labo added that the military should safeguard the identity of the person supplying the information.
Ex-DSS Director Ejiofor deems it a worthy project.
Former Director of the Department of State Security Services, DSS, Mike Ejiofor, also reacted, stating that pursuing terrorists capable of wreaking havoc during elections is a positive move.
Ejiofor, after praising the military for its continued struggle against terrorists, stated that the government must ensure that nothing that could disrupt the election is tolerated.
He viewed the revelation of the names of the terrorists’ ringleaders as a positive move, given that people may be unknowingly coexisting with terrorists.
“The issue is that these terrorists are from communities. They have friends and relatives who might not even know that they are terrorists, but with this development, the general public will be aware. As I always say, security is a collective responsibility.
“For government to attach reward to the arrest of these terrorists shows that they are aware that these guys are very dangerous. This will also encourage members of the public to at least go after them for the purpose of reward or safety of the general public,” Ejiofor said.
ACF responds to a list of 19 terrorist leaders
Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) Secretary-General Murtala Aliyu responded to the list released by DHQ yesterday by stating, “ACF welcomes the fact that the military has identified the kingpins in the crime circle. We encourage them to continue to do more because beyond this list of 19, we are sure there are more.
“So we should be able to get them and move towards peace, especially towards the election. We must secure every part of the country to ensure the elections hold credibly.”
MBF has all intelligence necessary to apprehend wanted terrorists.
Similarly, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, the national president of the Middle Belt Forum, stated that the Nigerian military had all the intelligence necessary to catch terrorist masterminds in the country.
He stated, “The military has high intelligence than you and I. The DMI, DIA and lots of their other organisations have lots of intels than all of us.“ ” Now if they feel that this wanted terrorists are not easy to hunt and that they need public assistance, so be it.
“Nobody will say no if something will add value to our situation.“
”But the truth remains that these people (military) know where the terrorists are. I believe our military has adequate intel to track these people. To me, it is more of a diversion than what it really should be.“ ”So let the military put its acts together and let’s make progress. We know that our military is capable of routing this thing out from wherever it is so that we can have peace in this country. So let’s watch and see the genuineness in whatever they have said.
“But my belief all along, which is true, is that our security services have adequate information and they have the capacity and capability to nip it in the bud all along, it’s just that Nigeria has become something else, may God help us.”
