Kebbi State Plans Death Penalty or Life Imprisonment for Bandit Informants, Boosts Security Measures

On Tuesday, June 24, 2025, Kebbi State Governor Nasiru Idris announced plans to amend existing laws to impose the death penalty or life imprisonment on informants aiding bandits, following deadly attacks in Tadurga village, Zuru Local Government Area, and Kyebu, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, which killed 30 people on June 17–18, 2025. Speaking during condolence visits to the affected communities, Idris labeled informants as “deadly in society” and vowed a serious approach to security, including the establishment of an army operational base in Zuru Emirate and the immediate deployment of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and other equipment from Abuja. He expressed grief over the losses, praying for the deceased and recovery for the injured, and reaffirmed his administration’s prioritization of security.

Governor Idris detailed past security investments, including 80 Hilux vehicles for security personnel, 1,500 motorcycles for vigilantes, and increased allowances for operatives in high-risk areas. He urged residents to avoid politicizing security issues or making inflammatory social media comments, emphasizing collective responsibility. Local leaders, including the Chief of Danko, Alhaji Ibrahim Al’aji, and the Chief of Dabai, Alhaji Suleiman Sami, praised Idris’s visit and measures but called for stronger border security to block bandit infiltration from neighboring states like Zamfara and Niger. The Emir of Zuru, Major General Sani Sami (Rtd.), commended Idris’s efforts, noting ongoing challenges with Kebbi’s terrain and inadequate military resources. Idris has also sought federal support, meeting President Bola Tinubu to request additional troops and advanced weaponry.

The attacks, part of a wave of violence claiming 59 lives across Nigeria’s Borno, Kano, Kebbi, and Plateau states on June 17–18 (Punch), exposed systemic issues like manpower shortages and porous borders, as noted by Idris. A May 2025 attack in Danmuntari, Danko/Wasagu, killed 11 and abducted 117, highlighting bandits’ exploitation of farming seasons (Daily Trust). The proposed legal amendments align with calls for harsher penalties, though a civic group, Zuru and Tadurga Concerned Patriots, disputed exaggerated claims of 200 deaths, affirming the state’s swift response with relief and deployments (Leadership). Posts on X, like @DailyPostNGR, reflect public support for the death penalty proposal, while @SaharaReporters criticize delayed federal action. The measures aim to curb Kebbi’s insecurity, which saw 1,374 bandits killed and 2,160 arrested in the North-West from 2023–2025 (DHQ), but sustained success depends on addressing informants and border vulnerabilities.