The ’Yan Banga
p. 15-20
Texte intégral
1The interesting circumstances that led to the formation of the ’Yan Banga,18 can be traced back to 1973 in Kano city. It was formally launched in Kano by a group of young hunters on 22 May, 1973. These hunters had often encountered armed robbers when they went out hunting and noted their hideouts. They kept the police informed; this practice continued over the years. The role played by the hunters pleased the police, who came to see them as vital agents for the maintenance of peace. The ’Yan Banga, therefore, was regarded initially as a group of law-abiding hunters. The corps had no official legal recognition and members were not formally trained in modem law enforcement methods. They, however, enjoyed the goodwill of the authorities and the general public as a result of their useful activities.
2During the 70s, the ’Yan Banga not only gave vital information on robbery and theft-related cases, they engaged hoodlums in battle and if apprehended, they handed them over to the police. From a group of mgged hunters, the ’Yan Banga were gradually transformed into a para-law enforcement group. Their activities helped the police reduce crime in the streets of Kano, as they patrolled the streets on foot and in groups between midnight and dawn.
3The ’Yan Banga (or Sintiri) were able to reduce the activities of armed robbers because they were authochtonous members of the communities in which they operated. This made it easy for them to identify the criminals. Once an armed robber was apprehended, he was usually subjected to rather crude methods of interrogation, e.g., toes and fingers might be broken; fingernails pulled out; hot dry pepper rubbed into the eyes, nose, and anus. Sometimes, they would strip their prisoners naked, tie them in chains and parade them around the city, flogging them continually. This kind of treatment is popularly called ‘jungle justice’. Although this treatment was brutal, it was acceptable to the public, because- instant justice was seen to be dispensed, without any bureaucratic delays generally associated with the police and court proceedings.
4The ’Yan Banga organization became popular and spread throughout northern Nigeria. Realizing their impact and the need for responsible citizens to contribute meaningfully to the maintenance of law and order, the authorities decided to formally recognize the ’Yan Banga as a vigilante group. In Maiduguri, they were registered in 1976 and operated in all parts of the city.
5Abdul-One Mohammed, a military governor of Bomo state recognized the important role the ’Yan Banga played in getting rid of men of the underworld and formally launched the vigilante group in 1990. To boost their morale, he donated specially designed uniforms to them. To ensure credibility, before any person was admitted into this vigilante group, his ward head or bulama had to certify that he had been resident in the ward for at least two years. Having certified the individual as acceptable, the bulama made a recommendation to a superior authority known as the lawan, who in turn attested to the candidate’s character. His name was then sent to the secretary/chairman of the vigilante group. Confirmation as a vigilante member took at least three months. The candidate received a uniform if his comportment was adjudged satisfactory.
From Militia to Gangsters
6The inability to check the infiltration of unsavoury elements into the ’Yan Banga has transformed the once credible group into a band of thugs. New recruits into the ’Yan Banga did not share the ideas on law and order which inspired its founders. Lack of payment and lack of discipline led to the gradual corrupdon of the corps. Today, the mere mendon of the word ’Yan Banga to a northerner inspires fear and panic. The modern Yan Banga knows how to ensnare innocent cidzens.
Profile and Origins of Members
7The majority of ’Yan Banga are men, which is understandable since its founders were hunters. The youngest members are about 18; a few women, mainly prostitutes, are also members.
8Today, redred and/or dismissed soldiers and policemen, the jobless, the unskilled, school drop-outs, etc., have swelled the ranks of the hunters who founded the group. Their activities have become as towless as the criminals they once hoped to eliminate. In fact, their criminal acdvities are carried out under the guise of lawful checks on individuals at night. The ’Yan Banga embark on operations with what may be termed clinical thoroughness.
9The ’Yan Banga like the ’Yan Daba, recruit their members, especially the younger ones, from the streets. Delinquents, whose main source of income is from picking pockets and stealing are easily recruited and introduced to big-dme stealing. The ’Yan Banga operate in crowded market places where they form a ring of fast and clever pickpockets who steal and pass on their loot neady from one gang member to another. They move together in groups in densely populated areas as a strategy for ensuring the easy disposal of stolen items, and also for security against members of other gangs, or to deal with any other threat to individual members of the group.
Areas of Operation
10The ’Yan Banga are usually foimd in crowded areas; in markets, railway stations, motor parks, cinema houses, churches and mosques (during weddings and other elaborate ceremonies), nightclubs, hotels, stadia, supermarkets and airports.
11The ’Yan Banga take advantage of the general anarchy during periods of crisis, such as religious, political or ethnic conflicts to steal and loot. They have gradually graduated from petty crimes into armed robbery and house-breaking. They have also penetrated the rank and file of the police force so that they can easily bail out their colleagues each time any of them is arrested.
Targets
12Basically, the victims of the ’Yan Banga are the vulnerable-women carrying handbags or wearing expensive jewelry, men carrying briefcases, travellers. In addition, they attack the homes of wealthy citizens.
Mode of Operation
13Their mode of operation is very sophisticated and directed by one leader. They often use master keys to steal cars which they sell these cars in the Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
14House-breaking is usually done at night. Houses are not selected at random, but are usually chosen after a tip-off providing information about a wealthy individual who has a large sum of money in the house. Such information is obtained by hanging around banks or business areas where large sums of money change hands. Unknown to a victim, he may be trailed right to his home by the robbers.
15Alhaji Mohammed Gretna,19 narrated his ordeal at the hands of the ’Yan Banga. Although he escaped with his life, he lost a large sum of money and many valuable household items. Grema’s ordeal started around 0400hrs. As he got up to prepare for his morning prayers, he heard strange movements inside his garden. He quickly rushed into his room and brought out his double-barrelled gun. Watching from the security of his house, he saw four hefty men, wearing turbans and carrying knives, clubs and iron rods. Unknown to him, however, four more were outside the house. Driven by fear, Grema shot at the intruders and wounded several of them. They beat a hasty retreat, but promised to come back for revenge.
16Grema went to the police station to seek protection. He also reported the incident to Operation Damisa, a special unit of the military which had been set up to counter such attacks. In addition, he employed the service of a mai-gadi, a full-time private security guard, to protect the house at night.
17Alhaji Mohammed Grema was lucky, others who have encounterd the ’Yan Banga, have paid with their lives. In some cases, these daring gangsters even telephone their prospective victims demanding a ransome. The thoroughness with which they carry out operations is evidenced by the fact that they sometimes outsmart the police and the army.
18The experience of a wealthy businessman in Tashan Bama, Maiduguri is a case in point. He refused to be blackmailed by the ’Yan Banga; when they eventually descended on his house, however, all his pleas for mercy counted for nothing. Even though he surrendered his money and his car keys, he was dragged out of his house and slaughtered like a ram. As might be expected, his neighbours were all too frightened to come to his rescue.
Tools of the trade
19The ’Yan Banga, like most gangs of thieves, use razor blades, knives, cutlasses, matchets, Zarto-saws and chains. Charms are also used to render their victims helpless or to protect themselves from being apprehended. Some also use various types of ropes, gora (a bamboo stick with a curve on the rear end) and hulafa- (leather whip). Sulphuric acid is occasionally used against victims, depending on the nature of the job. The ’Yan Banga are also known to carry a set of master keys, which can be used for easy access to residences.
Intoxicants used
20Like the ’Yan Daba, the ’Yan Banga use various stimulants and narcotics, such as Indian hemp, cocaine and alcohol. They also use ICD, Kwaya, Rep and Ajigarau.
21They also use charms. They are reputed to know when an individual has money on him without necessarily seeing the20 money.20
22The Tudun Wada quarter of Kaduna is one of the known hideouts of these gangsters, where stolen goods are hidden before disposal. If one is lucky, one might locate one of the gang’s agents and negotiate for the return of stolen item (s). In Maiduguri, the Bulaburi and Gwange wards are notorious hideouts. Further investigations may yield fuller details on the various abodes of the ’Yan Banga in northern Nigeria.
Notes de bas de page
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