May we begin with this as opening point that His Excellency the Executive Governor of Zamfara Bello Matawalle need to seat-up and face the security challenges confronting the state with all sense of sincerity.
Since the period when the communication network was shutdown in Zamfara, there are more to what one would understand about the sincerity of where the state government is heading in terms of security modeling that would be to the convenience of average Zamfara citizen and which point to the impression that the state government is serious about ending this security crises rocking the state
Today for instance, we have heard about the unfortunate incidence of gunmen blocking Shinkafi-Moriki-Kaura Namoda road putting commuters to serious panicking.
Adam Barau Elduniya Shinkafi, posted on his Facebook page that, he has seen with his eyes vehicles that were set ablaze on the main road while another person was shot by the gunmen with him and other passengers narrowly escaping bandits attack along the road.
Two days back, people of Karazau and neighboring villages have also suffered hours of bandit’s rascality even as they killed about (13) persons in the two separate attacks.
Again day before yesterday there was panicking at Federal College of Education Gusau as people scampered when they noticed the movement of vigilante along the school thinking they were armed bandits.
As pointed in our previous editorial, Sheme-Yankara-Wanzamai and Kucheri road has become a danger zone that no motorists or commuter can pass through that road without his chest beating repeatedly.
Going to Dansadau is also another challenge to people living along that area, as bandits allegedly block the road at will and enforce inhuman decisions on the people.
Though there have been conflicting views whether the measures enforced, especially the shutdown of the communication network has yielded the desired result.
Good or bad and in all honesty there is need for the Governor to seat down with stakeholders and review the security architecture of the state. Things are in all sense of reality not working well in terms of fighting armed banditry.
Again, the Governor need to honor his pledge by opening the telecommunication network because I am sure people from the remaining thirteen local governments need to be given access to communication even for their business right.
Governor Tambuwal has taken the right step since the massacre in Goronyo and same thing with Governor Elrufai after the recent Kaduna Abuja incident which led to the brutal murder of one of our own late Sagir Hamida of blessed memory.
Not only that his Excellency Governor Bello Matawalle need to as a matter of urgency order for the opening of schools if not in all part of the state at least in the state capital and local government headquarters so that our children and younger brothers can go back to continue with their learning process.
If schools are on all over the country Zamfara should not be an exception and with all sense of seriousness, the government need to act with high speed to ensure that schools have resumed.
Government should engage stakeholders rightly for them to offer sensitive advise as to how the school opening shall be done and the security measures to be deployed need to be universal ones to avoid getting things wrong again.
We would emphasize now that since the party congress is over, the Governor need to take a leave from politics for some times and face issue of governance with all sense of seriousness. Things are actually falling apart in Zamfara in our (opinions) and we cannot afford to continue in this direction.
As for the political aids who are calling the shots for the Governor in terms of advice, they should have the fear of Allah and tell the Governor the true situation of things in Zamfara.
We all know that so many things are wrong in Zamfara and the Governor is sometimes acting on the advice of those who are confined with the honor to tell him the truth and for reasons best known to them the opted to blindfold the facts and tell the Governor a different story.
We would also call on the Governor’s media aids to please be sincere to themselves and to the Governor who appointed them by taking the step of bringing to the public limelight the good works of the Governor and stop wasting too much time in creating more enemies for him.
Information managers in the current global practice are best known for policy promotion and selling of the good actions of their principals, not really offering defense against the views of the citizens.
Democratic governments are produced through the will of the people, and it is for the people, so views of the people, no matter how bad they may look is of useful advantage to the leader.
Troops of Operations Hadarin Daji based at Bakura local government area of Zamfara state had succeeded in repelling armed bandits attack on Rogoji and Sikkida communities of Bakura local government area council.
According to a credible source, the armed soldiers, after receiving credible information, moved to the areas and confronted the bandits.
On arrival at the scene where bandits were about to be launched their deadly attack, engaged them in a serious exchange of fire and eventually succeeded in neutralizing the areas.
During the operation, the troops recovered (2) Ak47 rifles and some special ammunition.
The soldiers had also succeeded in recovering some ruminant animals, including cattle, goats, and donkeys.
The recovered animals were successfully handed over to their owners at Sikkida Magaji village.
The source said despite repelling the attack, they remain vigilant of the area to make it safe.
Operatives of the Operation Hadarin Daji had succeeded in rescuing nine kidnap victims along Unashi-Sabuwa forest in Bukkuyum local government area of Zamfara state.
According to an anonymous source, the operatives of the Nigerian military carried out a coordinated operation where they successfully scared the bandits who ran away after sighting the operatives approaching their enclaves.
After fleeing, they abandoned five kidnapped victims, and they were later rescued by the forces of Operation Hadarin Daji.
The victims were handed over to the traditional ruler of Unashi village, and they were eventually reunited with their families.
Furthermore, troops of OPHD deployed at FOB Unashi while on fighting patrol along bandit enclave in Naruba forest in Zamfara state, intercepted 2 kidnapped victims who escaped from their abductors due to the troops operational activities.
The victims were equally handed over to appropriate authority for them to be reunited with their families.
Similarly, troops of Operations Hadarin Daji deployed at Magami while on fighting and confidence building patrol foiled bandits attack and kidnap attempt Dogon Santsi general area.
The bandits escaped into the bush and successfully rescued the kidnapped victims. The victims were handed over to Sarkin Magami and they have been reunited with their families.p
Some suspected bandits armed with deadly weapons abducted over twenty women in Gora Namaye district of Maradun local government area of Zamfara state.
A source who confided in this medium stated that, the women were abducted while working on their various farms at the outskirt of the Gora village.
“About twenty-four of these women are so far set to be in the custody of the bandits, and the figure is not yet determined since more are being searched for.
A source who spoke to Thunder Blowers stated anonymously stated that the bandits had earlier sent a warning that no local should go to the farm for this year’s farming activities and that those who believed they had no option were the ones that became victims of circumstances”.
“It has been the fear of the people that the bandits may execute their bad plans, but people have no choice because going to the farm is the only option for the people of the area”.
When contacted, Zamfara police spokesman DSP Yazeed Muhammad said he will verify to get the details of the incident before responding.