A socio-political group known as Zamfara Vanguard has called on the federal government to set up a committee to resolve the wanton killings by bandits, cattle rustling and kidnappings that have plagued the state for the past two years.
The group, recently formed and based in Gusau, capital of Zamfara state, said in a statement made available to newsmen and signed by its coordinator Haliru Musa, that the committee when established should, among other things, trace the genesis and the remote causes of the killings.
It also called on the government to identify the sponsors as well as fish out the traditional rulers suspected to have abetted the killings and other accomplices and be made to face the law no matter who is involved.
“We are requesting the federal government to immediately intervene in the huge humanitarian crisis that has emanated from the ugly development,” Musa said in the statement, adding that the current population of widows and orphans coming out of the crisis is another challenge that only the federal government can handle. The group condemned the Zamfara state government for failing to act decisively when the killings by the bandits started in remote villages, saying “Governor Abdulaziz Yari has been insensitive and was unwilling to live up to expectations as the chief security officer of the state.”
Musa stated that if Governor Yari had acted decisively and swiftly when the killings started, it would not have escalated to its current state. He said Yari failed to cooperate with the various security agencies in the state and instead relocated to Abuja and travelling abroad, leaving the people at the mercies of killer bandits, kidnappers and cattle rustlers.
“Today, the state is in a direstraight and worse for it economically and socially, because of the selfish interest and greed of some people in and outside the state. We need the federal government to come to our aid as the people are facing untold hardship as a result of the situation we are facing in our own land,” he said.
The group, however, commended the federal government for its latest action of halting illegal mining in the state as well as the chasing out of foreign miners. While urging the government not to rest on its oars in fining lasting solution to the crisis, it also commended the National Assembly for appropriating N10 billion in respect of the situation. The Zamfara Vanguard noted with the efforts Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa and his untiring efforts both in the state and in the Senate in bringing succour to many survivours and always raising the isse on the floor of the Red Chambers. ”Indeed, the effort of Senator Marafa has paid off and now we are receiving the desired attention,” Musa said.
