(MONDAY EDITORIAL)

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Suspected bandits armed with deadly weapons had invaded Bungudu town on Monday the 14th of August 2023, killed one of the vigilante members in the town and abducted scores of prominent personalities.

They abducted the Royal son of the Emir of Bungudu Abdulrahaman Hassan Attahiru Bungudu, the former State Coordinator for IFAD, Alh Abubakar S. Fada Bungudu, some married women and children.

This attack came nearly less than two weeks after another set of armed bandits invaded Bungudu divisional police office and killed one of their inspector Mr. Nura Birni Tsaba.

The bandits launched similar attack on the police checkpoints closer to the Bungudu police station and killed scores of police officers who were on duty more than a month back.

The scenario in Bungudu is becoming alarming and there is no second thought that fear of the people of Bungudu is increasing day-in-day-out.

The state government in collaboration with the security agencies, especially the army, needs to do something very urgently to abort such an ugly development.

But beyond that, we have to say with all sense of humility that the state government is not doing enough to convince the citizens of Zamfara state that it has a serious concern about the rising spates of insecurity in the state.

We were living witness to the sad developments in Anka, Bakura, Kuryar Madaro, and even recently the protest staged by the students of the Federal University Gusau who have been under constant armed bandit attacks for sometimes now.

In all this scenario , this medium has observed with serious regret that, not a single press release was issued by the government of Dauda Lawal either condemning or sympathizing with the victims and their family members

This is sad and a clear demonstration of the simple facts that the government is not showing any concern about the killing and abduction that is happening at an increasing speed.

Sad also, since the inception of this government of Dauda Lawal there has never been a definite policy or steps taken by the government to demonstrate its sense of direction in terms of fighting insecurity.

Apart from visitations paid to various security formations in Abuja and office meeting with the head of security agencies nothing visibly to show to Zamfara people that the goverment of Zamfara is on top of the situation.

It is good we reminded the Governor that he has strictly campaig on the premise of providing security and safety for the lives and the properties of the people of Zamfara state, which he and his political campaign team accused Mr. Bello Matawalle the former Governor of refusing to do.

We will implore the Governor to kindly re-watch the video footage of his campaign to Magami town alone and make a self assessment of himself and also ascertain whether he is on the right track or not.

On those political marauders asking Zamfara people to give this government enough time or that the government is new, I think they are blind because there is no time to be accorded for security, life is critical and one of the fundamental objectives of the social contract entered into between Zamfara sate government and its citizens is “SECURITY”.

Thank God the Governor is a student of power and politics and even though he has shifted to the banking sector, there is a powerful don in the field of political science, Prof. Kabiru Mato who should always remind the Governor that he needs to fulfil his part of the social contract with the people of Zamfara by securing the people at all cost and by according security the priority it deserves.

If one tells us that the issue of security is not part of the statutory role of the Governor of a state rather that of the government at the center, then we would ask this question, why did Dauda Lawal the Governor of Zamfara promised what he does not have power to give???.

There is no campaign ground where Dauda Lawal went during the 2022/2023 campaign in the entire Zanfara state where he did not castigate Governor Matawalle for failing to provide security and secure Zamfara people, and he made promise to reverse the situation for the good of Zamfara people.

Now the people of Zamfara are the judges and the Governor should remember that the final judge is alive, and we shall appear before him and give an account of our stewardship as leaders and followers.

We are writing this editorial to fulfill our own part of the burden since the Governor himself stated severally whoseoevr refused to advise him where he is wrong he has not forgiven him.

ON THE INTERIM, WE RECOMMEND AS FOLLOWS:

•The Governor of Zamfara Dauda Lawal should ensure immediate deployment of enough but armed military personnel to various strategic positions in Bungudu town and environs in order to boost the confidence of his people.

•The Governor needs to make a public broadcast and sympathize with not only the people of Bungudu but the entire people of Zamfara for the sad happening under his watch.

•And also state in an obvious voice the government’s commitment to secure Zamfara state so that the confidence of the people can be boosted

Governor Dauda this is the right time to act and save Zamfara people in the hands of the heartless killers and abductors.