Ogona Anita
The Chairman of Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Honourable Umar Abubakar Bukkuyum, has raised the alarm, alleging that residents across the 17 districts of the council have paid over ₦2.966 billion in ransom to bandits for the release of abductees between 2015 and date.
Abubakar Bukkuyum, who made the disclosure to reporters on Sunday, said residents have been at the mercy and dictates of bandits for a long time, with little or no effective counter-effort against their activities, which have rendered farmers and other citizens helpless.
According to the council boss, over 1,065 people have been killed by bandits within the period (2015 to date) across communities in the local government area.
“Those who survived the coordinated series of attacks by the bandits have been rendered homeless, while many families have fled to places they consider safer,” he stated.
In the same vein, he reeled out statistics of livestock rustled by bandits within the period, which include 84,928 cattle, 52,423 sheep, and 187 camels.
He explained that reports on rustled animals were compiled to give a clear picture of how the people of Bukkuyum Local Government Area have been terrorised by bandits’ attacks and threats.
“Our people have long been exposed to bandits’ threats and attacks in silence, without any firm intervention to counter the criminals,” he lamented.
According to Abubakar Bukkuyum, “Our people are mostly peasant farmers who earn their livelihoods from farming, but today they can no longer farm.
“We need to survive independently to enjoy peace and normalcy so that we can thrive in our farming businesses.
“Look at Tungar Rago village. Many residents have suffered abduction. There are countless adults and children being held captive by bandits in the Gando forest, bordering Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State.
“Today, we are all living in fear across communities in Bukkuyum LGA, experiencing sleepless nights due to bandits’ attacks. There is no peace—day or night, people are abducted across our districts,” he lamented.
While dismissing political insinuations and allegations, the council chairman said, “We should jettison politics and face the facts as they are. Between me and God, there are no lies—everything I have said is true.
“I also know that President Bola Tinubu has the zeal and commitment to end the scourge of insecurity in the country.
“In Zamfara State, we are aware of the efforts being made by Governor Dauda Lawal Dare, but the average Zamfara citizen will also tell you where the onus lies and who bears greater responsibility for ensuring that this menace is ended.
“Our understanding is that the inaction seems deliberate. If not, why not tackle the bandits and their collaborators head-on or design a sustained reconciliation process to restore lasting peace in our local government and the state?” he asked rhetorically, noting that the military has been making efforts in its operations.
“Although I am aware of the efforts of the governor, who went the extra mile to bring in members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) from Maiduguri, Borno State, to support the fight against banditry, the intervention did not yield the desired results, as the level of sophistication and weaponry deployed by the bandits overwhelmed the response,” he added.
