(Opinion Article)
By
Anas Sani Anka
It is glaringly clear that things are actually falling apart along Gusau-Funtua highway simply because of constant armed bandit attacks.
Two days back a whole commandant General of Zamfara Community Protection Guards Bridg General Lawal B Gusau (rtd) was attacked and badly wounded by some suspected armed group.
A few days back same bandits killed seven sets of Community Protection Guards based at Tsafeand allegedly took away their arms.
Before the Tsafe incident, another set of bandits ambushed (9) operatives of Katsina Community Watch and murdered all of them.
This tragedy that happened within last week alone is a small portion of the crises compared to hundreds of other victims of murder and abduction along that road.
One may not state exactly the number of people who were killed on that highway since 2022. The same thing goes with the number of hundred of others that were kidnapped along that way.
Authorities from the Federal and States of Zamfara and Katsina had always claimed to have taken measures that are aimed at securing the people plying the highway, but the story is always a sad one.
The most confusing thing about banditry operations along that significant road is that despite heavy military and security presence, bandits at intervals attacked the road and unleash mayhem on the innocent passengers.
Apart from corruption allegedly perfected by some of these security operatives along that highway, many believe that the security forces are not ready to end this tragedy for reasons best known to them.
The major camps control by these bandits majorly Munhaye, Mada and other strategic location within the jurisdiction of that road are known and can be reached and destroyed using the simplest technology.
But one will wonder why things are not done in the most appropriate ways and people are left to their confusion; hence life is not certain when plying the road.
It is time, the Governors of Zamfara and Katsina to come together to chart the way out in order to save that significant national road; hence things are actually falling apart.
The current security arrangement is defective, and it cannot build the confidence of the people and if a whole commander of a community protection outfit can be attacked and injured despite his powerful security convoy well armed, then there is likely going to be more complex tragedy if care is not taken (God forbid).
The government of Zamfara in my view, shall suspend any other thing and concentrate on securing that road because of its multiplier benefits to the socio-economic of the people.
The banditry crisis along that road is really causing a bad name for Zamfara and something drastic needs to be done to address the fear in the people along that road.
The earlier we act, the better.
