Buhari Issues Fresh Threat To Bandits 1 Year After Vowing To ‘Crush Them Totally’ For Killing 50 In Sokoto

President Muhammadu Buhari has finally reacted to the reported mass killings of the residents of Sokoto State by suspected bandits on Sunday. 

In a fresh threat to the bandits on Monday night, President Buhari said “the clock” of their “ultimate destruction is ticking” as they “will no longer have a place to hide” due to the ongoing bombardment of their hideouts by the military in different parts of the country. 

THE WHISTLER recalls that the president had issued a similar threat to the bandits after they reportedly invaded the Sabon Birnin Local Government Area of Sokoto State and killed more 50 people during the 2020 Eid al-Fitr celebration. 

“We will not abandon you to your fate because we are determined to bring these mass murderers to their knees and crush them totally,’’ Garba Shehu had quoted Buhari to have said in reaction to the May 24, 2020 attack.

Months after that attack, suspected Boko Haram terrorists slaughtered 43 rice farmers in a farming community known as Zabarmari in Jere Local Government Area of the state.

In the latest attack, the bandits were said to have invaded a central market in the Goronyo Local Government Area of the state and killed people on sight. 

Reacting, Buhari said “The bandits are currently under desperate pressure because of the intense and sustained air and ground operations against them in their hideouts by our security forces.

“The cowardly attacks on innocent people by the bandits show a rearguard action of criminals under pressure. But they will have no place to hide and our gallant security forces will not relent in the current offensive to defeat these callous enemies of humanity.”

Meanwhile, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, on Monday night confirmed that 43 people were killed in the fresh attack. 

“The number of people that died in Goronyo; I did say it was above 30. I was not categorical about the figure,” Tambuwal was quoted to have said by his media adviser, Muhammad Bello.

“We just finished a meeting with some stakeholders and I have confirmed that we lost 43 people, unfortunately to that incident. May God Almighty have mercy on their souls.”