Senator Saidu Dansadu, a former senator representing Zamfara Central Constituency, has revealed that a new group of terrorists believed to be loyal to the Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP) is planning to chase bandits out of the southern part of Dansadau Emirate, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Dansadu told Daily Trust that members of the group initially camped in a forest near Shinkafi and approached Turji, a well-known bandit commander operating in the axis.

 “We believe the group consists of Nigerians and other foreign nationals and are making the bandits hibernating in the forest very scared and uncomfortable because bandits run away at the sight of the members of the armed group,” he said.

“It is really very frightening because they want to have a base there; forget about what they are preaching, that bandits should stop attacking communities or farmers. They want to get credit for bringing back peace to the area so that they win the hearts of the highly traumatised locals there.

 “In this situation, whoever is coming with a promise to stop attacks on communities will win the favour of the people. Our fear is that in the end, they will start carving a territory in the area.

 “It is unfortunate that the armed group emerged when the Army is strategically eliminating armed criminals from the area. Recently, soldiers launched attacks on the bandits in a place near Chabi community in the axis and many of the armed criminals were killed.”

He encouraged the Army to maintain its current pace and fight armed groups on numerous fronts, adding that coordinated assaults will be necessary to subjugate them.