Zamfara traditional rulers claim airstrikes killing innocent civilians not bandits

The Zamfara state council of traditional rulers has faulted accusations by Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali, claiming some rulers have been conspiring with bandits in the state.

Chairman of the council, who was represented by Emir of Bungudu, Alhaji Hassan Danfulani, refuted the minister’s claim on Thursday while addressing newsmen in Gusau, the Zamfara state capital.

According to him, the council has noted, with grave concern, the deteriorating security situation in Zamfara state and its members have been very active and close partners in the fight to end banditry in the state.

Danfulani also alleged that the Military airstrikes kill only innocent civilians in affected local government areas and five communities and not the bandits.

READ ALSO: Senate approves N10bn to combat killings in Zamfara

According to the traditional rulers, reports from the four local governments of Zurmi, Tsafe, Gusau and Anka indicate about five communities where the air strikes were carried out did not hit hideouts of bandits, rather, they said innocent civilians were victims of the strikes.

The council accused the minister of defence of tarnishing the status of traditional rulers in the state and asked the minister to withdraw the accusation which the emir described as baseless.

He went further to reiterate the resilience of traditional rulers in the state with regards to assisting security agencies by providing information about locations, routes, and names of persons engaged in such criminal activities and commended the effort of the federal government in its crusade against banditry in the state.

The council stressed that there will be consequences if the minister does not withdraw his accusation against them.

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