10 people killed as gunmen loot communities around Bauchi oil producing areas

Suspected terrorist groups wielding sophisticated weapons are terrorizing residents of communities around the newly discovered oil field in Alkaleri local government in Bauchi state.

Local authorities told PREMIUM TIMES that at least 10 people have been killed and residents are kidnapped daily as others flee en masse from villages in the area in fear for their safety.

Sa'adu Jibrin, a councilor from Maimadi neighborhood - one of the terrorized communities, told our reporter that the gunmen were carrying out attacks in the area unchallenged.

“Kidnapping for ransom is now commonplace. In less than 20 days, about 30 people were kidnapped and the smallest ransom paid was 2 million naira. They killed at least ten people in a few weeks.

"The area is now rich in oil, which will attract more people to invest, but that can only happen if the place is secure. The gunmen went to the oil drilling site and kidnapped a head of household whose residence is less than a kilometer from where President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the oil drilling.The abduction occurred after the President's visit.Two people were kidnapped from the spot.

“In the Mai-Arin Kudu community, they killed a person and kidnapped his wife. In Zadawa, they killed a youth leader, we have just returned from Gombe, and they shot him up to seven times, after killing him, they left with his mother and his older sister. In the Mai-Arin Aware community, they killed a father and left with their son. In Garfatu community, they killed a vigilante leader and kidnapped his daughter,” he said.

“Residents are fleeing daily for their safety. The complaints we receive from locals relate to their concerns about how to deal with the situation. may not be the case,” Mr. Jibrin said.

He said Alkaleri Local Government shares a border with Yankari Game Reserve, perhaps the most popular game reserve in Nigeria. He said the gunmen had hiding places in the forest.

Mansur Community Residents fleeing for safety.

"The gunmen are outsiders in the area, they use local informants in our communities to carry out kidnapping activities, he added .

More than a thousand homes fled

The area comprises three districts which consist of Pali, Gwana and Duguri, each with District Chiefs under Alkaleri Local Government Area.

The oil field is located in the Pali district. Locals are fleeing to the town of Alkaleri, the seat of the local council, and others are fleeing to the local government area of ​​Misau and neighboring Gombe state.

At least more than a thousand households have fled the neighborhoods for fear of being attacked by armed men, said a traditional leader who asked not to be named for security reasons.

He identified the affected communities in Pali district as Jada, Mai Arin-Kudu, Dani, Kufa, Bubu, Papa, Kuturun Kuka, Tudun Wadan Jada, Zadawa and Bambu.

He said the other towns are Gachiri, Maimadi, Shugu, Garfatu, Mai Arin-Arewa, Dakai, Maso Kano, Kwanan Kuka, Yola and Bakin Ruwa.

In Gwana district, the traditional leader identified some of the affected communities as Mansur, Baladde, Magasa, Gurabayi, Diji