The Northwest region of Nigeria witnessed a dramatic split in security events as over 120 captives were released by bandit leaders in Zamfara and Katsina States, even as a new mass abduction of scores of villagers was reported in Zamfara.
PRNigeria gathered that notorious bandit kingpin Bello Turji released over 100 captives in Zamfara, while an unknown bandit leader released more than 20 kidnapped victims in Katsina. These releases followed sustained dialogue and confidence-building efforts facilitated through the regional “North West Operation Safe Corridor” peace deal process.
The positive momentum, however, was immediately overshadowed by a fresh banditry attack on Buzugu and Rayau villages in the Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State, where reports indicate that over 70 villagers were abducted.
The freed victims in both Zamfara and Katsina states were taken to hospitals for medical attention before being reunited with their families.
Authorities have maintained that the ongoing peace process is subject to close surveillance to ensure its credibility and to prevent any group from exploiting the negotiations to regroup or rearm.
The dichotomy of mass releases and new abductions underscores the fragile security environment and the complex challenges facing the region’s peace initiatives.
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.
