ZAMFARA KILLINGS: For years, bandits had been writing to communities demanding money —Gov Tambuwal’s aide

The full story of the wanton killings happening in Zamfara State may not have been heard yet as Imam Imam, the Media aide to Sokoto State’s Governor Aminu Tambuwal, has made some startling revelations.

Imam at the weekend painted the picture of a worrying scenario many areas of the state have continued to suffer in the hands of their assailants.

He said for years that bandits often write letters to communities asking for certain amounts of money especially on market days.

Describing this week’s mass massacre in Zurmi Local Government Area of the state as a “barbarism” the people have continued to suffer year on year, Imam lamented how the people now live in fears.

The spokesman to Governor Tambuwal, stated this in a series of tweets on his Twitter handle.

He wrote, “On this #ZamfaraMassacre, we are witnessing a repeat of such barbarism year on year. The affected communities have tried various methods to tackle the bandits to little or no success.

“The FG should consider establishing a new security force dedicated to forests/forest areas security. Something like Forest Rangers, with military grade training and equipment. They can join forces with locals to effectively police communities on the fringes.

“As a reporter in Zamfara some years ago, I discovered that many local communities have adequate intelligence about locations and modus operandi of the bandits, but are hampered in their ability to ward off the criminals due to inadequate armoury and ineffective security presence.

READ ALSO : Gov Yari dissapointed that Buhari’s coming has increased spate of killings

“Two axis who have suffered the most from the terror of #ZamfaraMassacre over the years are Zurmi and Dansadau. Both are surrounded by forests.

“In Dansadau and surrounding areas, bandits write letters to communities asking for certain amount of money especially on market days. Terrorised residents will then tax themselves to raise the funds and deliver it to the criminals in the bush”.

According to him, the bandits are mostly rustlers, robbers and kidnappers, while vast majority of them are from the North and Niger Republic.

 

 

 

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