There are strong indication that outlawed Yansakai vigilante group and bandits are set for showdown in the northwest state of Zamfara.
But prior to the clash, there is additional report that the Yansakai may have gone on rampage killing and maiming innocent villagers in the state.
Recall, the group was set up by the immediate past government of Abdulazeez Yari.
However on assumption of office two years ago the Governor Bello Mattawalle led administration outlawed the vigilante group and was abolished from operating in Zamfara State.
SINL Nigeria Online check revealed that though the group had been banned, they have remained adamant causing mayhem and is allegedly been led by a former Commissioner in the immediate past government in the state.
The commissioner, is allegedly under EFCC investigations alongside former Governor Yari over allegations of official corruption and misappropriation of public funds running into Billions of naira and award of fictitious contracts for personal enrichment.
A source who pleaded anonymity said the former commissioner is allegedly suspected to be the brains behind all the nefarious activities of the outlawed vigilante group, Yansakai, to divert the attention of the members of the public on his corruption allegations charges at the EFCC.
Historically, and during the tenure of the former Governor Yari, he was alleged to have recruited 500 Yansakai across the 17 Emirates in Zamfara State without an Act of the State House of Assembly backing their operations and existence.
Additionally, it was alleged that the outlawed vigilante group may had planned to go into hinterland and attack settlements “to provoke bandits into regrouping to launch deadly attacks on innocent people in the villages” the source said.
The issue of security which comprises of armed banditry, cattle rustling, kidnapping, killings and the setting of villages ablaze by gangs of armed bandits and criminals elements came into existence before the inception of Bello Matawalle’s administration, though there are still occasional cases criminal attacks in the Zamfara, which pride itself as state of farming and shariah.
More disturbing is an allegation of camping of Ansaru from Niger State and Boko haram insurgents in some villages, trying to collaborate with armed bandits to assemble and cause serious security havoc in Zamfara State ahead of 2023 elections.
According to investigations, the rampaging Yansakai Vigilante group had on Saturday June 19th, 2021 in the early morning attacked the Mashekarin Fulani settlement of Balgare village in Danmanau district in Gamji District of Bakura Local Government area of Zamfara State.
The rampaging Yansakai group in hundreds on a top of motorcycles, wielding dane guns, clubs, matchets and other weapons, from Dogon karfe forest axis, stormed the settlement searching for natives, where in the process four (4) people were confirmed dead, while three (3) others brutally injured.
The Injured victims are reportedly currently on admission at Bakura and Talata Mafara general hospitals.
Meanwhile, the mobilization of these Yansakai was observed from Tureta LGA of sokoto state, Kuruwa, Damri, Sabon garin Damri villages and from Anka, Bukkuyum and Talata mafara local council’s.
“The Yansakai vigilante mostly don’t discriminate between who is a bandit and who is not. The possibility of recording more casualties cannot be underestimated, as other settlements like Dandutsi was equally ransacked” the source added.
Specifically, it was gathered that more Yansakai group are allegedly going back into Dogon karfe forest, as armed bandits are also said be regrouping.
“The possibility of deadly clash cannot be rule out in Zamfara state” the source concluded.
