Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state has written a memo to President Muhammadu Buhari informing him that terrorists are consolidating their grip on communities in the state with a “parallel” government and “permanent operational base”.
Premiumtimes reports that the Governor raised the alarm in the memo which was sent to the President in late July.
In the memo, Gov El-Rufai is reported to have stated that terrorists had infiltrated and dominated communities and formed “a parallel governing authority,” exercising control over social and economic activities and dispensation of justice in the area. According to the report, the Governor said the terrorists had advanced in their plans to make Kaduna forest areas their “permanent operational base” for the North-west region, citing a “series of intelligence reports.”
“Observed movement patterns and intercepted communications of migrating terrorists have shown a clear interest in setting up a base, with the stretches of forest area between Kaduna and Niger States strongly considered,” he wrote.
As the 2023 general elections approach, Gov El-Rufai reportedly informed the President that the terrorists have enacted a law to ban residents from participating.
“The insurgents enacted a law in the District, banning all forms of political activity or campaign ahead of the 2023 elections, especially in Madobiya and Kazage villages,” the governor’s memo read
The report stated that the governor informed the President that the ban on political activities followed a recent wedding ceremony involving the terrorists.
“According to actionable intelligence, members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Musulmina Fi’biladis Sudan (aka Ansaru) hibernating in Kuyello district of Birnin Gwari LGA recently conducted a nuptial ceremony during which they married two yet-to-be-identified female residents of Kuyello village.
The ceremony was attended by various Ansaru members and witnessed by residents of the area. After the marital rites, insurgents in attendance reportedly conveyed the brides to the dreaded Kuduru forest, in the same District,” the memo read.
The governor was quoted to have also informed the President that the terrorists now settle disputes in communities. According to the report, the terrorists “fined one Mu’azu Ibrahim, a resident of Kuyello community, the sum of One Million Naira for selling plots of land without the consent of the owners.”
The Governor was also reported to have told the President that terrorists now man the ungoverned space and extract revenues from the people.
“Multiple reports also exist of bandits and terrorists exacting protection levies and similar taxes from farmers and communities, in return for permission to cultivate their fields,” the governor said.
