Zamfara State

By Kabir Fagge Ali

It is a known fact that security personnel are always ready to pay the supreme price whenever they are in line of action. Their patriotism and unrelenting effort in tackling insecurity partly make us sleep comfortably at night.

Worrisome, however, are reports that our gallant troops, who protect our territorial integrity and lives, are allowed to be slaughtered like guinea pigs during terrorists’ ambushed attacks.

Last Saturday was a black day as troops of the Nigerian Army, alongside two Police officers, were killed around the Danjibga axis in the Tsafe Local government area of Zamfara State in an ambush.

The attack on the troops by bandits is in retaliation to several attacks launched by troops on different bandit camps in the state, leading to the death of numerous terrorists and the destruction of their camps and ‘operational’ motorcycles, among others.

Zamfara has been battling insecurity for nearly a decade. The Nigerian military, however, must be commended for leading the war to end banditry in the troubled North Central state and general insecurity in the country.

But winning the war demands our collective support. Both the federal government, the military, other security agencies and citizens must join forces and come up with a portent strategy for tackling terrorists and other criminal elements, holding our dear nation to ransom.

That is why a multifaceted approach to fighting insecurity is imperative. Firstly, the military’s intelligence-gathering system must be enhanced. This will help quickly identify the movements and plans of terrorists and other armed groups.

Strengthening collaboration between various security agencies and investing in technology, such as surveillance and communication equipment, are also vital.

Again, we need to equip our troops with modern and sophisticated ammunition, and the government must allocate adequate resources to ensure that the military has the tools and knowledge needed to adapt to evolving security threats. This will also help its troops navigate the challenging terrains often exploited by insurgent groups during gunfire battles.

Community engagement remains a linchpin in the fight against insecurity. Local populations can be pivotal in providing credible intelligence, as they possess invaluable knowledge about their communities.

Establishing trust between the military and communities is paramount for building a united front against insurgency. Addressing the root causes of violent conflicts in the country is another thing that cannot be overemphasised.

Beneficial socio-economic policies and sound development initiatives focused on providing education, healthcare, and employment opportunities can help to dissuade our youths from being recruited into armed and terror groups.

By addressing the underlying issues, the government can reduce the appeal of insurgency, banditry, robbery and oil theft, among other crimes. And marginalised populations will not find cause to take to criminalities and heinous vices for survival.

Furthermore, international collaboration is crucial in tackling cross-border security threats. Zamfara’s proximity to neighbouring countries should necessitate coordinated efforts to prevent armed groups from exploiting regional vulnerabilities.

Similarly, collaborative intelligence sharing, joint patrols, and diplomatic initiatives can contribute to a more robust defence against insurgencies.

In summary, curbing the spate of ambush attacks on troops in Zamfara and other states afflicted by terrorism and banditry requires a holistic strategy, combining intelligence, technology, community engagement, and socioeconomic development.

Let’s hope that those saddled with piloting the affairs of our dear nation summon the political will to do what is needed this time. They have been docile for a long while now.

Kabir Fagge is an NYSC member with PRNigeria Centre Abuja.

By Zayyad I. Muhammad

Zamfara State has a sweet-bitter story: massive reserves of mineral resources, including gold, iron ore, granite, limestone, chromate, etc., but illegal mining of gold and other minerals has led to making the state and its neighbours one of the hotspots of banditry and kidnapping in Nigeria.

Zamfara occupies a very important spot in the history of northern Nigeria, being one of the regions in the old Hausa Kingdoms and one of the roots of the Usman Danfodio Jihad of 1804, but its current story is mostly associated with senseless insecurity and bad news.

Zamfara has produced some prominent people who have served Nigeria and humanity well, but nowadays, one cannot talk of misgovernance in northern Nigeria without also pointing at Zamfara state as well.

One cannot talk of the rich culture and important towns in northern Nigeria without mentioning Zamfara. Zamfara hosts some prominent towns in northern Nigeria: Gusau, Kauran Namoda, Anka, Gummi, Talata Mafara, etc.

Some 12 years ago, Zamfara State began to have its fair share of banditry and poverty in Northern Nigeria. There are 8.33 million out-of-school children in northwest Nigeria; when Governor Dauda Lawal took over the state’s affairs, Zamfara accounted for a significant number of this figure. Insecurity, kidnapping, and school closures are some of the factors responsible for the increase in the number of out-of-school children.

In the 2023 gubernatorial election, the people of Zamfara boldly moved away from the past—it was not only surprising, but it shocked the polity. In the presidential election, the Zamfara people voted for the All Progressive Congress (APC), and President Bola Tinubu won the state, but in the gubernatorial election, Zamfarawa voted against the ruling APC in the state; they voted for something entirely new.

But why did the Zamfara people, for the first time in 24 years, massively vote for something outside their traditional trajectory? And why the unnecessary distraction against Governor Dauda Lawal by former Governor Bello Mutawalle and co.? First, let’s look at the man, Dauda Lawal: He is a new-breed politician but an experienced technocrat—someone who is completely outside the ‘system’ borrowing from the language of politicians.

Governor Dauda twice contested the Zamfara PDP gubernatorial primary election and won it twice with a wide margin, beating all his opponents. He is the only gubernatorial candidate whose election was challenged twice in the court of law, but he prevailed. Dauda Lawal spent over 25 years in banking, reaching an Executive Director position at the First Bank. He has over 26 years of post-qualification experience, which covers commercial and public sector banking.

So why the distraction Governor Dauda is facing now when he is trying to tackle insecurity, poverty, out-of-school children, misgovernance, etc.? Recently, there were some shocking revelations from the Zamfara state government: the Zamfara cargo airport and the uncompleted governor’s lodge in the 14 local government areas of the state. Documents released by the Zamfara state government showed that former Governor Bello Matawalle approved the release of over one billion naira for the fencing, landscaping, and furnishing of the governor’s lodge in 14 local areas even before the projects began.

Similarly, the Zamfara state government also released some documents showing that Matawalle has also embezzled over N4.5 billion from the abandoned Zamfara Airport Project, describing the project as a scam and citing what it called dubious transactions. However, Matawalle has denied all the accusations and said that he inherited the Cargo Airport Project from the previous government, saying all the allegations against him were nothing but calculated mischief and diversionary tactics by Governor Dauda Lawal’s government.

In every story, there are three sides: the two sides of the story and the truth, but the truth must be from one of the two sides. But questions need to be asked. Why did the Zamfara people opt for something new and someone ‘fresh’ in the 2023 gubernatorial election? Why did misgovernance and insecurity stay in Zamfara before now? Why is the current government of Zamfara State facing unnecessary distraction? Why is the opposition to the current Zamfara government oiled from the outside of the state, but the masses are supporting the government? The answer to all these questions is likely one: Governor Dauda Lawal seems to have found the silver bullet to solve Zamfara’s headaches: insecurity, poverty, misgovernance, and corruption. If Governor Dauda Lawal succeeds, many people will not only be out of politics but will also be out of the sights and minds of the Zamfara masses, thus the needless distraction to stop Governor Dauda Lawal.

A look at what happened and is happening in Zamfara State: it is obvious that the Zamfara local people’s worldview on governance has changed; they are thirsty for a new beginning free from banditry, corruption, poverty, and mismanagement of the state’s resources, but they also value accountability, inclusivity, responsiveness, and transparency in their aspirations and needs.

Governor Dauda Lawal promised them during his campaign that he would leverage his experience as a technocrat, technology, and people for efficient service delivery and prioritise sustainability and immediate local needs, not white elephant projects. He also promised to face the bandits head-on while protecting human rights and addressing the challenges that birthed insecurity. Thus, many public analysts are of the view that former Governor Bello Mutawalle should have used his current position as Minister of State Defence to work with Governor Dauda Lawal to tackle the security challenges in the state, not unnecessarily distracting the Governor.

Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Abuja via zaymohd@yahoo.com.

By Bilyamin Abdulmumin

A few days ago, while a friend and I were at a restaurant for breakfast, we had an unexpected encounter with Honourable Mansur Musa Danjamiah, who represents the constituency of the Jega Gwandu Aleiro. Having greeted him, he showed us familiarity to join our table for his breakfast. The challenge he threw on us on why we eat outside and the justification he offered for himself for the same act will be a discussion for another day.

Whenever a giveaway or money politics is discussed, two alpha northern politicians come to my mind: Ahmed Sani Yerima Bakura and Muhammed Adamu Aleiro. From 1999 to 2007, when Yeriman Bakura swayed as Zamfara State governor, he donated everything to the masses. The ‘giveaway’ of Sharia pioneer transcends borders; it did not stop from usual donations of money, houses, cars, food, fertilisers, and Hajj tickets only but other unconventional donations like donkeys, camels, or other domestic animals. Everyone who played the slightest role during Yerima’s tenure talks about this with nostalgia.

However, since playing a significant role in 2011 enthroning his godson, Abdulaziz Yari, Yerima’s political influence in the state has been going southward. He became a caricature of himself, living only at the mercy of the godson.  All the money and the donations splashed have vanished into thin air. Unlike Yerima, Abdulaziz Yari made capital projects his signature throughout the state. You find Shehi capital projects in every nook and cranny of the state.

So, instead of only giving Zamfara fish to eat, Abdulaziz goes beyond by etching his name in gold through developmental projects. Shehi currently commands cult-like followers in the political arena of Zamfara state. This is evidenced in the 2023 general elections when the PDP swept all of Zamfara State but did not affect the water’s rock. This is a profound testament to something remarkable: the looming paradigm shift in the money or giveaway politics.

In another instance, in the build-up to the 2011 general elections, the hostility between Usman Nasamu Dakingari and his godfather Adamu Aleiro reached a climax, with the latter vowing to dethrone the former. However, in a twist of events, the former ousted the latter. The Kebbi State result sends shivers down the spine of Aliero’s camp, sending them all packing.

 What was behind that unpredictable turn of events? Capital projects. It said if you want to challenge Dakingari, show him a problematic project. Dakingari took infrastructure development head-on. Unlike Abdulaziz, who combined both money and projects in politics, Dakingari maintained a fisted hand; because of this, as a Fulani, he was even bantered during his tenure by being a committed Fulani nomad, ready to pursue with a symbolic stick anyone dares to come closer to Kebbi state treasure. Despite that, he pushed over all his opposition because of the widespread infrastructure developments.

Fast forward to the present, Adamu Aleiro (PDP) was fortunate to turn the tide. As the past chairman of work and present chairman of Land Transport committees in the red chamber, Senator Adamu Aleiro has been unleashing capital projects in Kebbi Central. This feat has endeared him to the people of Kebbi State like never before. This is evidenced in the 2023 general election, where he not only won the senate ticket against the sitting governor, but the majority of his loyalists did. Several local governments in Kebbi Central, like Jega and Aliero, can be described as work in progress because several main roads have been at different levels of completion.

Honourable Mansur Musa Danjamiah (PDP), who won a surprise victory in 2023 to unseat the sitting representative, has also recognised this paradigm shift. He has followed Muhammad Adamu Aleiro’s footsteps by focusing on capital projects. People were saying that Mansur Musa had uncovered the ‘mismanagement’  of all the previous representatives because no one had thought a House of Rep could deliver such capital projects.

With the current trajectory that Danjami’ah and Aleiro are following – prioritising capital projects, there is no end in sight for their flourishing political careers. To other politicians, it’s time to wake up and smell the coffee. The tide is changing, and the era of money-driven politics may be giving way to a new paradigm.

By Dr Musab Isah Mafara

The security situation in Zamfara State demands immediate and resolute action from the state and the federal government of Nigeria. Security, undoubtedly, should be the topmost priority of any government, as it lays the foundation for meaningful development and progress. Regrettably, recent events and the ongoing spate of attacks across the state indicate that more substantial efforts are required to ensure the safety and well-being of the people.

The recent official recognition and recruitment of ‘Yan-Banga by the state government is a step in the right direction. This move acknowledges the need for additional security personnel to combat the rising wave of criminal activities. Furthermore, the swift response and the rescue of some of the kidnapped students of FUG two days ago is a testament to how the reaction time of the security apparatus in the state has improved. However, one may argue that a similar response has not been seen where the helpless victims were not students. And since we are yet to know the actual number of students kidnapped, it is not far-fetched to assume that some students may still be in captivity in addition to hundreds of Nigerians in the kidnappers’ dens in Zamfara state and beyond.

While we acknowledge that the government may be undertaking efforts behind the scenes, the prevailing situation demands a more visible and concerted response. The spate of attacks that continue to plague the state is a clear indication that there are still gaps in the security apparatus. It is imperative that the government takes swift and decisive action to bridge these gaps.

In his book, Wujubul Hijrah, Shehu Usmanu Danfodiyo discussed the need for a leader to prioritize security even if it means spending all the state resources to ensure the safety of his people. Shehu wrote:
وسيرة ائمة العدل في الفيء والخمس ان يبدا بالسد المخاوف والثغور واستعداد الات الحرب واعطاء المقاتلة فان فضل شيء فللقضاة والعمال وبنيان المساجد والقناطر ثم يفرق على الفقراء فان فضل شيء فالامام مخير بين تفرقته على الاغنياء وخبسه لنوائب الاسلام

(Words in square brackets [ ] are mine to further explain the points made)
“The history of just leaders as regards to [the wealth generated by the state through] fai’ and khumsi [two of the many means of generating income to the treasury of the state] is that the leader should start with fortifying the state [walling the cities, building garrisons, etc], procurement of armament, and paying the salaries/allowances of soldiers. If something remains [in the treasury after that] then the leader should pay the judges and civil servants, and build mosques and bridges [and by extension roads]. And then he distributes the wealth to the poor [this could mean direct cash transfer but also providing social amenities such as schools and hospitals]. If there is still money [in the treasury after all these expenses] then the leader is given the choice of distributing it to the rich or keeping it for a rainy day.”

The quoted text clearly shows the need to give absolute priority to security above all else in the running of a state. Financial investment in the security sector should be a priority, as it is an indispensable component of effective security measures. There is also a need for our security strategy to move from being reactive to attacks to being proactive and preventing attacks. So many villages have been attacked, so many students have been kidnapped that the next attack is a question of when not if. The security measures must also be sustained for the foreseeable future. What tends to happen is that every time a school is attacked, the security agencies become active in some flash points for some days only to let their guards down after a while, until we are taken by ‘surprise’ again by the bandits.

The time for decisive action is now. The people of Zamfara State deserve to live in an environment where their safety and security are guaranteed. The government must intensify efforts, allocate adequate resources, and collaborate with relevant stakeholders, especially the two ministers of defence, to fortify security across the state. Only by doing so can Zamfara State flourish, with meaningful development and progress becoming attainable goals.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Operation Hadarin Daji troops on Friday freed nine abducted victims in Zamfara State’s Bukuyyum Local Government Area.

It was learned that the military responded to a distress call on armed bandits in Mailere village in the Bukuyyum region while conducting normal patrols and protecting farmers in their farmlands.

According to a senior military source who asked to remain anonymous and spoke to journalists, the forces deployed quickly to the location of the event and made contact with the armed bandits at the community’s gate.

However, the troops’ superior firepower forced the armed bandits to retreat and leave the nine kidnapped people when they engaged them in combat.

The Daily Reality understands that the freed victims were afterwards reunited with their families.

Zamfara State has been on the list of Nigerian provinces terrorised by the activities of armed bandits who attack, abduct, and abduct travellers and residents of communities in the state.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Armed bandits on the Gusau-Sokoto route in Zamfara’s Bungudu Local Government area are reported to have slain four police officers.

According to a local who identified himself as Haruna Musa, the bandits ambushed and shot the police officers who were on duty on the road on Monday.

He stated that the bandits opened fire on the police officers who were stationed at a roadblock they had set up not far from Bungudu town, killing four of them.

Musa was quoted as saying, “The police officers were on duty and mounted a roadblock not knowing that the bandits were hiding in a bush near the roadblock.

“The bandits suddenly came out of their hiding place and opened fire on the police officers, killing four of them.”

The Daily Reality (TDR) understands that the police public relations officer in the state police, SP Yazid Abubakar, confirmed the attack.

However, he noted that he was not aware of whether or not a police officer was killed during the attack.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdurrashid Bawa, and Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara state continue to trade words over corruption allegations.

The anti-graft agency chairman challenged Matawalle to expose him if he has any fraud record against him.

Bawa has thrown this challenge against Matawalle in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Thursday.

He added that even though no human being was 100 percent clean, he would love it if Matawalle could expose him.

The Daily Reality reported that Matawalle was currently under investigation over alleged N70 billion fraud.

The EFCC chairman stated that it was intriguing that Matawalle would want to take on the role of a supervisor, who tells the EFCC whom to investigate.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

The Zamfara State Police Command dislodged a bandits’ camp and freed 14 abducted people after spending 68 days in captivity.

The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), S. P. Mohammed Shehu, disclosed this in a statement in Gusau, the state’s capital.

The statement reads, “On March 10, 2023, Police Tactical Operatives in Conjunction with the vigilante while on Mop Up Operation near Munhaye forest successfully dislodged bandits camp belonging to one recalcitrant bandits’ Kingpin AKA Dogo Sule.

“As a result of the operation, fourteen hostages comprising two male adults, seven females and five children below the age of 2 were rescued.

“The victims who were in sympathetic condition have been taken to the police clinic in Gusau for medical treatment and thereafter reunited with their families and relations.”

Mr Kolo Yusuf, the Commissioner of Police, expressed his pleasure over the victims’ regaining of freedom. He also reassured the continued commitment of the police to protect the lives and property of the citizens.

 By Muhammadu Sabiu 
 
Ibrahim Shehu, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for governor of Zamfara State, was expelled from the party for allegedly engaging in anti-PDP conduct.
 
Shehu was expelled due to anti-party activities that violated Article 58(1)(a), (b), and (c) of the PDP’s 2017 amended constitution, according to the expulsion letter signed by Hon. Aliyu Hassan, the party’s secretary in Mayana Ward.
 
According to the letter, the party’s Mayana Ward Working Committee made the decision, which would take effect in January 2023.
 
Recall that Ibrahim Shehu was twice in charge of having the party’s governorship primary election annulled.
 
Ibrahim Shehu, who served as a representative in the Federal House from 2011 to 2015, didn’t comment about it yet.
 
The state chapter of the party, meanwhile, claimed to be unaware of the development, noting that it had not been officially alerted by the ward and that any complaints made against Shehu would be thoroughly probed before any action was taken.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Some villages in Zamfara State’s Zurmi LGA have to pay a “compensation charge” of varying amounts.

Aliyu Buhari, a resident of Moriki, one of the settlements in the local council, claimed that the bandits had demanded payment of the levy through released hostages before allowing villagers access their farmlands.

According to Buhari, some villages have paid the bandits and reached a reconciliation agreement with them.

He also noted that people in Moriki are actively striving to increase the tax.

He was quoted as saying, “People living in Moriki ward were asked to pay the sum of N20 million to be able to enjoy some level of peace.”

There have recently been reports of abduction in the state as the bandits have yet to demand a ransom for some of the abductees.