Residents from several communities in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State staged a peaceful protest on Wednesday, calling for urgent government action amid escalating bandit attacks in the region.
The protest, which began around midday, drew large crowds of residents—riding motorcycles, driving vehicles, and walking—who marched through the state capital and gathered at the main gate of the Government House in Gusau.
Communities such as Mada, Ruwan Bore, Fegin Baza, Bangi, Lilo, Wonaka, and Fegin Mahe have been repeatedly attacked, with residents claiming that over 100 people have been killed in recent months.
One of the demonstrators, Malam Abubakar Abdullahi from Fegin Mahe, shared his personal loss: “I lost several relatives to the violence and had goods worth over N1 million—including 500 bags of fertiliser—looted from my shop.”
The ongoing insecurity has severely disrupted agricultural activities, with many residents stating it is now dangerous to farm or access their lands.
Reacting to the protest, Chairman of Gusau Local Government Council, Hon. Abubakar Iman—represented by Aminu Wakili Mada—acknowledged the frustrations of residents from Mada, Ruwan Bore, and Fegin Mahe.
He said, “The state government, in collaboration with security agencies, is working to restore peace and will soon deploy operatives to the most affected areas.”
Efforts to get a response from the Zamfara State Police Command spokesman, DSP Yazid Abubakar, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to multiple phone calls.
In a related development, security operatives rescued 11 kidnap victims from a forest in Zurmi Local Government Area. The victims, who were abducted by bandits from Kaibaba village in Turba ward of Isa Local Government Area, Sokoto State, were handed over to the Sokoto State Government on Wednesday.