Hundreds of protesters, mainly elderly women and nursing mothers from Jimrawa village in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, staged a peaceful demonstration in Gusau, the state capital, over worsening insecurity in their area.
The protest came barely two weeks after residents of Gusau LGA staged a similar demonstration, alleging that relentless daily bandit attacks had claimed over 100 lives in villages such as Mada, Ruwan Bore, Fegin Baza, Lilo, and Bangi.
Kaura Namoda and several other LGAs in Zamfara have suffered repeated attacks by armed bandits, leaving dozens dead or abducted, properties and livelihoods destroyed, and villages deserted.
Residents blamed the poor condition of roads for aiding the attackers, as security personnel often face serious challenges reaching affected communities quickly.
The protesters from Jimrawa stormed the Government House in Gusau to demand urgent security intervention.
Jimrawa is one of six wards where by-elections are scheduled for August 16, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
However, worsening insecurity has made normal life impossible, with many residents reportedly still in captivity.
Speaking during the protest, a resident, Maimuna Adamu, explained that some of their husbands were in bandits’ custody, which accounted for the large number of women in the demonstration.
“We voted for Governor Dauda Lawal, but since he assumed office in May 2023, he has not fulfilled his promise to improve security,” she said.
Another protester, Auwalu Umar, tearfully recounted: “They killed my father, mother, brothers, and sisters. I now live alone with no one to support or even advise me.”
An elderly woman, who declined to be named, added: “We won’t return home until we get assurance of our safety. Politicians only care about our votes, not our lives.”
Over the past four days, bandits reportedly abducted 150 people in a series of coordinated attacks on several communities in Zamfara State.
The spokesperson for the Zamfara State Government, Mahmud Mohammed Dantawasa, confirmed the attacks to the BBC.
Residents of the affected areas said the heavily armed bandits attacked over a four-day period in villages including Sabon Garin Damri and Dakko Butsa (bordering Sokoto), as well as Tungar Abdu Dogo, Tungar Sarkin Daji, Sadeda, and Tungar Labi.
According to them, the attackers often strike at night or during rainfall, taking advantage of the fact that residents are usually asleep.
In Kadeddaba village, Anka LGA, residents said they have been forced out of their homes and farmlands due to constant attacks.
A resident reported that about 50 people were currently being held hostage by the bandits, including 42 who were recently abducted from nearby Sabon Gari village.
“My younger brother is among those kidnapped. We initially agreed on N500,000 ransom, but now they are demanding N2 million.
“There are security personnel stationed here, but they don’t engage the bandits, even though they know where they are.
“We’ve been stopped from farming. People are living in fear,” he lamented.
At least six people were reportedly killed and 45 others, mostly women and children, abducted in Bakura LGA of Zamfara State after a night attack.
The armed bandits raided five communities — Sabongarin Damri, Sade, Tungar Tsalle, Tungar Musa Dogo, and Tungar Sodangi — allegedly after residents failed to pay levies imposed on them.
Locals said the operation lasted for almost one and a half hours.
“The bandits kidnapped women and children and also rustled cows. However, the cows were later recovered after local vigilantes engaged the attackers in a gun fight while they were passing through a village.
“Three men out of the 45 abducted managed to escape and return to their families the next day, but the remaining victims are still in captivity,” a resident of Sabongarin Damri said.
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