Zamfara: Notorious bandit leader, Dogo Gide offers to protect farmers amid concerns

A notorious bandit leader and a citizen of Zamfara State, Dogo Gide has reported made an offer to protect farmers this rainy season.

The offer sent jitters down the spine of residents of Magami community in Gusal Local Government Council of the State with serious concerns of what has become of the kingpin that he expressed his willingness to protect them.

Before now, Gide seemed invincible and being the most brutal bandit leader in the Northwest zone, his offer became a source of with mixed reactions among residents in communities and neighbouring villages.

Gide knew he was the target of hit by the Nigerian troops and it was gathered that he relocated to Kizara village near Magami after a ferocious battle encounter with the military in Madada forest where he has been residing for a couple of years.

CAPITAL POST gathered that Gide has survived several onslaught by the troops and still remained undeterred, even when the Zamfara State government offered peace deal.

Gide’s offer has been confirmed by an anonymous resident Dansadau Emirate, but expressed concerns of the workability of Gide’s offer, wondering if that would not be a bait for attack.

The resident opined that if the offer by the gang leader works, he may not allow access to its harvest when the time comes which automatically mean, the farm produce would be taken over by bandits.

He could not confirm to CAPITAL POST in Gusau if there was such arrangement in the past and farmers where denied access to harvesting their farm produe, saying that the bandit leader newly relocated to their axis which they are currently observing restricted movement.

The resident said: “He relocated to Kizara, but this agreement is just a temporary relief. It means we at Dansadau community will face serious problems when traveling.

“If there is an agreement between the bandits and Magami community, the bandits will move freely, leading to more attacks along the Gusau to Dansadau road,” the resident explained.

“Since Monday, it was only last night that people managed to reach Dansadau from Gusau. They had to wait for security clearance and military escorts at multiple points along the route. Any area with an agreement with bandits faces trouble due to their free movement. This is what we are suffering now.”

Meanwhile, the Military Information Officer of the Operation Hadarin Daji in the North-West, Captain Suleiman Omale, and the Spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command, ASP Yazid Abubakar, when contacted denied knowledge of the information.

“I am not aware of that information, but I will get in touch with the Dansadau DPO and get back to you,” ASP Abubakar stated.