120 bandit gangs operate with 60,000 AK47 rifles in northern states

A lecturer at the Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Dr Murtala . Rufa’i, says  there are 120 gangs of bandits operating in six northern states.

He said each of these groups, operating in Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kaduna, Kebbi and Niger, has in its possession more than 500 AK 47 rifles.

The university don also said over 12,000 persons have lost their lives to banditry in Zamfara state since 2011.

According to him, about 250,000 livestock had been rustled, 120 villages’ destroyed and over 50,000 villagers were displaced by bandits in the period under review.

The lecturer disclosed these at a public lecture organised by Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, as part of its seminar series on banditry in the north west.