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Tag: Zamfara

  • Zamfara: The gold ‘armada’

    In the past couple of months, Zamfara State and most of the northwest, has been in the news for distressing reasons. Killings, kidnappingsand destruction of property have been ongoing in the region for some years, and the violence has now reached a level at which the government can no longer soft pedal in its response to the mayhem. The bandits responsible for the killings have been linked to the lucrative trade in gold that has somehow quietly thrived in the northwest for decades, especially in Zamfara. In the ensuing outrage at the insecurity now prevalent in Zamfara and the northwest, some of the criticisms have highlightedthe opportunity for GDP growth and development of the region that has been lost to the largely underground trade in gold.

    On October 1, 1996, the late General Sani Abacha effected a placatory creation of states to stem criticisms of the military government during his regime, thereby adding six states to Nigeria’s total of 30 at the time. One of the six states created was Zamfara, carved out of the already existing Sokoto State (formerly part of the old “Northwestern State”), in which mining of minerals had been taking place since the early 1900s. The Second World War interrupted the mining activities of the colonialists in northern Nigeria, and the industry was further crippled by the discovery of oil. Thus, exploring of mineral resources in the new state quickly took a back bench, especially when oil prices began to rise in early 2000s, during the commodities boom.

    As oil prices peaked sometime in 2008 and began to drop, the demand for gold and other solid minerals was on the rise. When word got out, the mostly farming communities in Zamfara State and around the northwest, who had been involved in some artisanal mining, began to drop their farming tools for small-scale mining instruments. Artisanal gold mining in Zamfara State and others picked up at a frantic pace, with renewed government interest also reflected in the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act of 2007. Small players in the international gold trade like Australian Mines and Savannah Gold were also on ground to cash in.

    But what triggered this violence in the region? Although the occurrence of gold and solid minerals in the northwest had not (and still has not) been properly mapped, new mining licenses and activities were impeded by new settlements along formerly identified gold-rich areas. The transmission of landed interest from traditional systems of ownership also posed a threat that was not properly handled by the government. Therefore, the artisanal gold miners formed themselves into cooperatives that sought to dominate mining activities in each area.

    The interests of the cooperatives soon clashed with that of legal and illegal local and foreign players in the gold mining industry, and government reaction remained almost non-existent. As such, as in all things where a vacuum of authority exists, private and ruthless players soon emerged to fill the void, infiltrating the cooperatives and other groups and encouraging the saturation of arms. As such, the violence relating to gold mining began.

    While the activity was getting increasingly dangerous, the frenzy of amateur mining by former farmers looking for a big score, without proper instruments and training, also led to another unintended consequence – an outbreak of lead poisoning, especially amongst children below five years of age.  The outbreak, which was most severe in Bagega, Zamfara State, was considered the worst outbreak of lead poisoning in modern history. It took the intervention of international agencies and civil society for funds running into millions of dollars to slowly reach communities and health professionals in fighting the outbreak. By the time any real help reached the communities, about 500 children had died between 2009-2013, with about 3500 more in danger.

    Even with the growing violence, and after surviving a lead-poisoning epidemic, mining operations in Zamfara and its north-western neighbours did not receive enough government attention. The efforts of the government to attract more investors was frustrated by the relatively low proven deposits of gold in relation to neighbouring African countries like Ghana, whose proven deposits is said to be 10 times the size of Nigeria’s. Other limiting circumstances include the insurgency in the North which discourages investors. The oil industry’s domination of the economy and the media also ensured that the rest of the country, with the exception of those in the business ofmineral resources and commodities generally, were largely ignorant of the dangerous but thriving trade in gold in Zamfara and the northwest.

    The violence in Zamfara and the northwest increased in the past two years, coinciding with the resurgence of the activities of insurgents in the northeast and the new spread of bloody attacks between well-armed cattle herdsmen and farming communities. Some have made connections between these security threats and the banditry. The so-called bandits razed villages probably to free potential mining spots, while cattle rustling, especially in Zamfara, also increased. According to reports, illegally mined gold is draped around the rustled cattle and passed through mostly unrestricted borders into neighbouring countries like Niger Republic, where they are traded, for onward transmission to end markets like the United Arab Emirates. Nigeria gains nothing in this underground trade.

    The economic loss inherent in the violent illegal mining of gold has been a major concern for some, alongside the loss of lives and property. The economic discontent mostly comes from southern Nigeria, which has often decried the poor contribution of the north to the economy. For instance, the lucrative cattle trade which has caused widespread violence across Nigeria is said to be so poorly monitored and taxed that the huge profits are lost to the northern shadow economy that his controlled by the North’s elites. It now appears that gold mining falls in the same category, even as other regions bear the strain of the national economy.

    In response to the increased violence in northwest and elsewhere in the country, all mining activities have now been suspended, and Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector General of Police, has announced the activation of “Operation Puff Adder” in the country, to combat banditry and kidnapping all over the country. The military has also stepped up its offensive in the northwest, hinting at the connivance of traditional rulers in the mayhem that has gripped the region. The veiled accusation by the military led to counter-accusations, by some traditional rulers, of civilian deaths after a military air-raid, only for the traditional rulers to recant their claims in suspicious and unclear terms.

    What to do? With emerging reports of collaboration between the bandits and traditional rulers in the northwest, which includes reports of social interaction with known bandits at celebrations hosted by some traditional rulers in that region, the picture of how the illegal trade has been sustained for so long is becoming clearer. Rumours of the alleged involvement of influential northern elites have also been rife, in explaining the downplaying of the violence that has gripped Zamfara and other places for so long.

    If the rumours and reports are true, about high level complicity in the mayhem tearing through the northwest, then the innocents in that region and the country as a whole have been dealt a wicked hand by the greedy masterminds of the terror. The gold-inspired violence in Zamfara and the Northwest is a multi-layer problem that combines issues of the economy, insecurity, border-control, regional hegemony and politics. Any government response must factor in each of these issues for it to be robust and efficient. The government must also act fast, as there is a danger that the gold-rustling bandits may spread to other gold-rich areas outside the northwest, like Osun State.

    Nigeria’s non-oil mineral resources are a vast treasure trove of potential economic activity that can bring real returns if given the attention that oil and gas enjoys today. The creation of an NNPC equivalent for solid minerals, which has been canvassed in the past, may not be a bad place to start. As always, the ball is in the hands of the government, and one hopes it does not drop the ball as it has done on security all over the country.

  • Killings: Declare state of emergency in Zamfara, Katsina, others -Ohanaeze youths, Clark

    With the wave of banditry in Zamfara, Kaduna and Katsina states not showing immediate signs of abating, Ijaw leader Chief Edwin Clarke and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Worldwide have told the federal government that the only way out is the declaration of a state of emergency in the affected states.

    Clarke and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Worldwide President, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, believe that since current efforts to stop the bloodshed have not succeeded, government should opt for state of emergency.

    Isiguzoro told The Nation on the phone that a state of emergency is long overdue in the affected areas.

    He said: “There should be no debate about declaring a state of emergency in those states because too many lives have been wasted already.

    “We can’t continue to do the same thing and expect a different result. If a state of emergency is declared in those states, it would not be the first in the country.

    “It was once the case in Plateau State. So, if the present arrangement has failed, it is imperative for the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency at least for three months.

    “When normalcy returns, we can go back to the status quo. The people conniving with the criminals in all the affected places must be identified and severely punished.”

    On his part, Clarke, who also leads the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), said the widespread killings, arson and kidnapping in parts of the Northwest require urgent and sincere attention, as failure to tame them with speed could cause it to spread to other parts of the country.

    He spoke from London also on the phone.

    He said that political and traditional leaders in the affected states cannot claim to be blameless in the mayhem, adding that the federal government would succeed if neutral persons were saddled with the task of checking the banditry.

    Read also: Absence of governance and Zamfara misery

    “Whatever is going on in those parts of Nigeria affects every part of this country, so you mustn’t leave it as though this is a matter for the northern people alone, a matter for the federal government alone or for just the security forces alone,” he said.

    He added: “It concerns all of us because if we don’t take time, it may spread to the whole country.

    “You will recall that during Jonathan’s time, I suggested the introduction of a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states; that the governors be removed from office for at least six months and give the military full authority to look into the place by appointing a military administrator.

    “I suggested that, but Jonathan did not carry it out. The governors, even members of the National Assembly, misunderstood me. They said I just wanted the governors to be removed.

    “Looking at what is going on in Zamfara, where accusation and counter-accusations are crossing between the parliamentarians and the governor and the emirs and so on, in this sort of circumstance, you need a neutral person who is versed in administration to take over the place and see that this is only responsible to the federal government; the security forces.

    “That is my own position. It is not political. I believe that a state of emergency should be declared in those places like Katsina and Zamfara.

    “You may not declare a state of emergency in all the states. Kaduna requires a state of emergency so that a neutral person can bring the Christians and the Moslems together.

    “We should remove politics from it; this is a national issue.”

    Sack heads of security agencies, says Arewa Youth leader Shettima

    But the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), the President of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum Comrade Yerima Shettima and an Itsekiri leader Chief Edward Ekpoko do not see a state of emergency as the panacea to the problem.

    The ACF says the solution lies in continuous onslaught against the bandits, while Shettima argues that a change of guards at the military high command looks more like it.

    Shettima wants the heads of the various security agencies responsible for tackling the menace sacked and replaced with new people who have fresh ideas on how to solve the security challenges.

    His words: “If those saddled with the task are not doing it well, sack them and bring in new people with fresh ideas.

    “It is when you bring in new people and the problem fails to stop that you can consider declaring a state of emergency. It is then you can bring in an administrator to tackle the problem.

    “Are we saying that those bandits are stronger than the Nigerian Armed Forces? Are we saying that they are stronger than the Nigerian Police or the DSS? It is not true!

    “There are more to it. The government must have the will to deal with anybody who is found wanting. Has the government changed the heads of the security agencies saddled with the responsibility?

    “Is it the governors that will take the guns and enter the bush to fight the bandits?

    “You don’t expect to see result until we define what we want to do and how to do it. People given security money should also be made to account for it, otherwise, we would never find a lasting solution to the problem.”

    Sustained onslaught is way out, not state of emergency – ACF

    The Arewa Consultative Forum does not believe the solution lies in the declaration of a state of emergency.

    It says government should rather continue to pound the bandits.

    National Publicity Secretary of the forum, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, said: “We have always made our position known on this issue. For those calling for state of emergency, we don’t think that is the solution.

    “If you recall, state of emergency was last imposed during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

    “But the question is: did it provide the desired result? No, it did not.

    “So, we suggest that the Federal Government should deal with the situation the way it dealt with similar ones in Benue, Plateau and others.

    “Like we have also said in our previous press releases, the government should equip the security forces to be able to face the challenges squarely.”

  • Exorcising our demons

    Are you surprised and wondering why there seem to be challenges all over the world? Watching cable news and other channels you are bound to be extremely pessimistic about our country and world. From the senseless Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka to the banditry in Zamfara and renewed killings in other states in Nigeria, the temptation is there to just give up and feel there are no solutions to the demons tormenting our country and world.

    If you’re like this writer who keeps wondering about such things then you need to read “The Fix: How Nations Survive and Thrive in a World in Decline” by Jonathan Tepperman. The timing of this 307 page book could not be better. Critical thinking is needed now than ever. No one appears to agree on fundamental ideas about governing anymore. Issues that can be resolved by dialogue are allowed to fester to the point of conflict because of the ego of elites. Manipulation appears to be a very effective and powerful tool these days.

    The grand ideological debates of the 20th and early 21st centuries – capitalism versus socialism, democracy versus authoritarianism etc – today seem too broad, tired and pointless, and little has come along to replace them. Where there are replacements, it is often hate speech, agitations and ethnic tensions. Globalization, the economic paradigm of our era, has become an epithet in the mouths of insurgent politicians exploiting middle-class discontent on both the right and left.

    The people in power, especially the so-called establishment, still seem surprised by the magnitude of the backlash – by Trump, by Brexit, by Biafra and other deepening anger – and confused about how to respond. And with no one pointing a way through the labyrinth of confusion make situations even dare. Worse still, democracy – seen as the “best” system of governance – itself has seemed to curdle with people yearning for alternatives. But what alternative is the dilemma

    We are in other words utterly adrift, ideologically speaking. It’s hardly a surprise the vacuum of ideas is being filled, in the political arena, by atavistic impulses like nationalism, racism and xenophobia. Jonathan Tepperman’s answer to this “gathering darkness,” as he calls it, is to take a giant step back from the larger, paralysed debate.

    In “The Fix,” Tepperman sets aside ‘Big Think’ in favour of small think: practical, microcosmic solutions to big problems in sometimes surprising places.  From Brazil to Botswana, Indonesia to New York City Tepperman offers what he calls “a data-driven case for optimism” at a time when “most of us have glumly concluded that our governments are broken and our domestic and international problems are insurmountable.”

    The book identifies “the Terrible Ten” and particularly difficult problems, including inequality, immigration, civil war, corruption, Islamic extremism, the resource curse, energy, the middle-­income trap (the difficulty countries have in making the leap from developmental success to wealthy-nation status) and two kinds of political gridlock: what’s not working worldwide. He argues that they are “fixable” when leaders act boldly. For each problem, Tepperman finds a free-thinking and experimental leader (or leaders) who defied the odds and achieved success.

    In the early years of this century, for example, President Luiz Inaìcio Lula da Silva of Brazil developed a ground-breaking poverty-fighting program, Bolsa Famiìlia, which gave small monthly grants to mothers to feed and educate their families. Almost to a tale, these are stories of political pragmatism in the midst of crisis, often involving battlefield conversions by unusually adaptable and able leaders unfettered by “ideological handcuffs.”

    In Brazil, the business community and economists were initially horrified when Lula da Silva, a labour leader who had experienced extreme poverty as a child, was elected president. But the “rabble-rouser metamorphosed into the Great Conciliator,” Tepperman writes, and to address Brazil’s terrible income inequality Lula launched Bolsa Família, an innovative and relatively inexpensive cash-transfer program that didn’t just give people handouts but required “counterpart responsibilities,” including government demands to use some of the money to send one’s kids to school and ensure they are immunized and get regular checkups (along with their mothers).

    Lula ended up winning over even conservatives in his country and dramatically reducing poverty, leading the former World Bank expert Nancy Birdsall to conclude that Bolsa Família is “as close as you can come to a magic bullet in development.” More than 60 countries sent experts to Brazil to study the programme.

    Tepperman also finds successful leadership stories in Mexico, which despite its reputation for runaway corruption and drug violence began to recover under former President Enrique Pena Nieto, who impressively exploited the despair of Mexico’s political elites to forge unprecedented cooperation. In just the first 18 months after his July 2012 election, Pena Nieto “managed to bust open Mexico’s smothering monopolies and antiquated energy sector, restructure the country’s education system and modernize its tax and banking laws,”

    In Botswana, the “cleaner than a hound’s tooth” Seretse Khama lifted his country beyond its dependence on the “resource curse” of diamonds, building what was considered, for a time, one of the best-governed countries in the developing world – a system so structured against corruption that it is, for now, resisting the alleged abuses of his far less capable son, Ian Khama.

    For the past two decades, the democratic leaders of post-Suharto Indonesia have steered their country toward a moderate form of politics that has undercut Islamist radicalism. From his fascinating travelogue, Tepperman offers lessons for a world in trouble: leaders need to think outside the box, embrace the possibilities that crises present, and respect systems of checks and balances. The pragmatic reform tradition that the book illuminates is apparently still alive.

    Though the book is not long, Tepperman goes into impressive detail in each case study and delivers his assessments in clear prose, careful to describe most of his success stories as experiments that could still fail.

    Tepperman has traveled the world to write this book, conducting more than a hundred interviews with heads of state – like Lula, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, Indonesia’s Joko Widodo and other leaders – and other innovators responsible for these unexpected success stories. His access and expertise make “The Fix” a work of unusual insight, focused on the people and leadership lessons behind the policies.

    Meticulously researched and deeply reported, it presents practical advice for aspiring problem-solvers of all stripes, and stands as a necessary corrective to the hand-wringing and grim prognostication that dominates the news these days, making a data-driven case for optimism in a time of crushing pessimism.

    It is easy to look at Nigeria, and indeed, the world today and see nothing but a spiral of disorder, dysfunction, and decline. In this wonderfully engaging book, Tepperman sorted out political success stories that cut against this gloomy outlook.

    Perhaps the biggest question about Tepperman’s thesis is one he addresses but doesn’t fully answer: whether many of these programs are readily transferable to other places, or are unique to the political culture whence they sprang. In the end, for example, former Mayor Bloomberg’s version of Bolsa Família failed to gain traction in New York, and there are indications it may work better in rural than in urban areas.

    As we grapple with the myriad of “demons” tormenting Nigeria and try to make sense of them, it should be clear by now that these “demons” can be exorcised if there is the political will. Our “demons” are elite inspired, and the starting point is to stand back, take critical look at those talking or agitating and see where their interests lie. It will surprise the majority that some of these interests are driven more by personal aggrandisements than the collective good.

    Yes, there are agitations and counter agitation everywhere; but I still believe Nigeria is better together than divided. Let’s not be scared to sit together and talk.

  • Air Force raids killed innocent civilians, Zamfara monarchs insist

    The Emir of Anka Alhaji Attahiru Ahmad Muhammad has reaffirmed the Zamfara council of Chiefs allegation that innocent villagers were killed during various air raids by the Air Force across different communities in the state.

    He denied the monarchs made a U-turn on the allegation as widely reported in the media.

    Speaking with reporters in his palace in Anka local government area of Zamfara state on Monday, Muhammad also debunked claims the monarchs have apologized to the Air Force over the allegation.

    He said the council maintained those killed were mostly innocent villagers, saying a list of casualties has been sent to the Chief of Air Staff Air Marshall Sadiq Baba Abubakar through a delegation led by AVM Lubo, which was in Zamfara state for facts finding mission.

    Instead he claimed the Air Force chief, through the delegation, submitted an apology letter to the traditional rulers, arguing such collateral damages were not uncommon during military operations.

    He lamented rather than taking the war to the bandits, most people have started blaming the traditional rulers for the menace.

    According to him: “What we are saying is that we are not in confrontation with anybody, be it the Nigerian Air Force or any government at any level.

    Read Also: Air Force bombs bandits

    “But innocent people are being killed in the cause of raiding bandits. It is our duty to draw the attention of the authorities concerned so that they check on where they went wrong.”

    He added: “We are custodians of respected traditional institutions. We are custodians of the people’s trust.

    “We are expected to protect the positive interest of our people, we are law abiding citizens. How can any one of us engage negatively in the activities of outlaws?”

    He lamented Air Force personnel do not also bother to carry out mop actions after the raids, making the bandits to return with more vicious attacks.

    While advising the Air Force and the ground troops to emphasise on mop up on any area they attack, Muhammad advised the people of the state to be vigilant.

    He urged the indigenes to assist security operatives with information to emerge from the shackles and buckles of banditry in the state.

  • Zamfara, banditry and Nigeria

    NIGERIAN leaders may be reluctant to agree that the country is really at war. The fact, however, is that the turmoil all over the country is an indication of a low-intensity war that does not conduce to sustained or substantial development. The turbulence in Zamfara, which the government and the media have nicknamed banditry, suggests that no part of the country will be spared the debilitating consequences of poverty and poor leadership. How has the country approached the Zamfara quagmire that is unsettling the Northwest of Nigeria? The answer may be gleaned from how the country has approached the Boko Haram insurgency that has disrupted life and economic activities in the Northeast. The government has grudgingly acknowledged that poverty is a factor in the revolts, but by emphasising law enforcement and military pacification of the restive areas, it is suggesting that the socio-economic underpinnings of the crises are not quite as crucial in restoring peace as scaling up the military response.

    After more than 17 years of insurgency in the Northeast, the epicentre of the Boko Haram revolt has still not witnessed the restoration of peace and development. Indeed, scarce resources, when they can be eked out of unrealistic budgetary allocations, are devoted principally to the rebuilding of devastated communities and the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons. Yet, the country has had a poor record of rebuilding devastated areas, rehabilitating affected persons, and restoring peace, not to talk of addressing the root causes of the problem.

    The Northeast template is, sadly, being uncritically replicated to tackle the budding Northwest crisis. But the template will bring only temporary relief. What is clearly amiss is not so much the problem of poverty or dwindling resources and their consequences, but the extreme poverty of leadership and the stubborn determination of leaders for escapism. Until the government addresses the root causes of these problems, they will merely be tilting at windmills. The country’s political structure is too weak and archaic to bear the weight of the people. That structure must be addressed, or the country will be in danger of imploding.

  • Troops apprehend LG boss, two others for aiding bandits in Zamfara

    Troops of Operation SHARAN DAJI in Zamfara State have arrested the Vice Chairman, Anka Local Government of the state, Mr. Yahuza Ibrahim Wuya.

    The arrest according to a statement signed by acting director public relations force headquarters of operation Sharar Daji, Major Clement Abiade was based on credible intelligence report linking him to bandits in Wuya and Sunke communities.

    “Mr. Yahuza Ibrahim was allegedly reported to seamlessly aided in selling rustled/stolen cows and donkeys as well as giving information about troops, other security agencies and vigilantes’ movement to the bandits. He was also accused of aiding the release of a notorious gun runner one Sani Yaro from Gusau prison,” Abiade explained

    Chairman of Anka local government Alhaji Muhammad Muhammad Fqa. Apado Anka, while responding to newsmen on the allegations levelled against his vice said any action taking is appropriate if the allegations are proven adding that no one should be pitied or shielded from the full wrath of the law no matter his rank and place in the society.

    Anka is one of the most hit local government by banditry activities in Zamfara, about 16 people were killed, 64 kidnapped on 23 of February this year in Kawaye community.

    Among the kidnapped persons were the Hamlet head of the community, his two wives, his younger brother and his wife and son, properties worth hundreds of thousands of naira and many silos burnt on same day.

    READ ALSO: Over 5000 killed in Zamfara by bandits since 2009, says Yari

    In another related development, the troops also arrested two suspected bandits’ informants, Ibrahim Bugaje and Ado Bayero along Burukusuma – Sabon Birni in Sokoto State.

    The suspects according to the release will be handed over to relevant security agency for possible prosecution after initial investigation.

    Abiade reiterates the commitment of the troops towards entrenching enduring peace and tranquility in Zamfara and its contiguous States of Katsina, Kebbi and Sokoto.

    Otiki enjoins the public to support the operation by reporting suspicious activities and movement of bandits to close by security agencies for prompt action.

    The arrest of the local government vice chairman is the beginning of a crackdown on top echelon of the society in Zamfara state.

    Many observers are of the opinion that the activities of the bandits are connected with the aid of government officials, villagers and chiefs.

  • Over 5000 killed in Zamfara by bandits since 2009, says Yari

    •A’isha Buhari pledges to support victims
    •10, 000 houses razed by hoodlums *N20b spent on logistics

    NO fewer than 5000 lives in about 500 villages have been lost from 2009 to date when banditry started in Zamfara State, Governor Abdul Aziz Yari Abubakar said yesterday.

    He gave the figures during the distribution of 5,000 assorted relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) by the President’s wife, Hajiya A’ishatu Buhari, in Gusau, the state capital.

    The first lady was represented by the Administrative Liaison Officer of her pet programme, Future Assurance Foundation, Hajiya Fadimatu Rafin Dadi.

    The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) Chairman stated that about 10, 000 houses were razed and over 13,000 hectares of farmland remain uncultivated.

    He said the relief materials, which were distributed by the president’s wife, was timely, assuring that they would be judiciously distributed and utilised.

    Yari, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Abdullahi Muhammad Shinkafi, said his administration has assisted security agencies with 570 Hilux vehicles.

    He added that he has provided administrative office and logistics for over 4,000 security operatives deployed to the state in the last seven years estimated at about N20 billion.

    According to the governor, there were only 27 security men on ground in 2009.

    Yari said N5 billion was disbursed to the victims of various attacks at different times.

    He gave the breakdown of such assistance as N500,000 given to families of those killed, N250,000 to those injured and same amount also to those whose houses or silos were burnt.

    In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary, Zamfara State Emergency Management Agency, Sunusi Muhammad Kwatarkwashi, an engineer, said available record with the agency shows that there are 37,000 IDPs that were forced to take shelter in various locations across the state. They included 4,634 men, 9,269 women and 23,172 children.

    Kwatarkwashi added that from 2018 to date, 586 people were killed, 267 injured, 338 kidnapped, some of whom, according to him, have  returned.

    He said the rest of those kidnapped are still in captivity in the hands of their abductors, stressing that silos and houses were burnt aside from rustled animals.

    Mrs. Buhari, however, pledged to keep supporting families, especially victims of insecurity and banditry attacks across Zamfara State and other affected areas.

    She said her foundation is making an effort to better the lives of the IDPs, urging them to be calm, resolute and believe that their travails is an act of God.

     

  • Zamfara banditry et al

    Two closely related events last week, brought to the public domain the inherent complications in the insecurity that had reduced Zamfara State to a verity of the state of nature in the last couple of years.

    Before these developments, the real texture and character of the security challenge in that state had remained largely cloudy even as thousands of lives were lost and properties of inestimable value destroyed. Initially, we heard of cattle rustling as the main challenge.  But later, kidnapping for ransom crept in.

    This was followed in quick sequence by the more devastating phase of armed banditry that manifested in constant attacks and burning down of markets and villages for reasons that remained largely inexplicable. These combined to cast an air of confusion on the background; character and motivation of those who constantly levy unmitigated violence on that state.

    It was thus not surprising that the apparent inability of our security agencies to decode and understand the real nature and dimension of the insecurity in that state had largely accounted for its degeneration. That is perhaps why the criminality has festered with our security agencies unable to figure out effective therapeutic responses.

    When therefore, the acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammad Adamu announced the banning of all mining activities in that state as one of the measures to curb the rising spate of armed banditry, insurgency and general insecurity which had reached a boiling point in the gold-rich hinterlands of the state, many were pleasantly surprised.

    For the police chief, the measure was to “bring an end to the wave of bandits’ attacks and kidnappings as the miners are accessories to the crimes and to cut off the collaboration between the miners, the bandits and the kidnappers”.

    Minister of Defence Mansur Dan-Ali was also handy to issue a strong statement in which he accused some highly placed traditional rulers in the state of aiding and abetting the bandits to perpetuate criminal activities and of “compromising military operations”.  The minister while announcing comprehensive plans to smoke out the bandits from the state warned any person or group of persons who choose to connive or sympathize with the bandits of dire repercussions.Early January this year, the same minister had while on a fact-finding tour of the state said the possibility of links between bandits wreaking havoc in rural communities and Boko Haram could not be ruled out. This came even as the Miners Association of Nigeria had lamented the frustrations of its members who hold legitimate mining titles with huge investments in the affected areas but had been chased out by fully armed bandits.

    The association said, the bandits turned illegal miners, were mostly from Burkina-Faso, Chad, Niger and even Ghana and their efforts to draw federal government’s attention to the nefarious activities of the bandits in the past did not yield any fruitful results. That perhaps, explains why the bandits had operated without let or hindrance.

    It is good a thing the government appears to be coming to terms with the complications posed by banditry, kidnapping and insurgency in the northwest zone of the country. This is more so given the prevalence of the same cankerworm in Katsina, Kaduna and Sokoto states among many other parts of the country that are regularly under the siege of one form of marauders or the other.

    By far, Zamfara has suffered more than its counterparts in the northwest region in the hands of all manner of demented serial killers. According to the state government, 3,526 persons have been killed by the bandits in the last five years with nearly 500 villages devastated and 8,219 injured. This is in addition to unrecorded crimes and criminal activities regularly committed by the marauding bandits.

    The matter was even such that President Buhari had at the heat of the killings arising from clashes between herders and farmers especially in the north-central zone, drawn parallels between them and those arising from the activities of bandits in Zamfara State. Though his intention then may have been to debunk allegations of government’s complicity in herders-farmers clashes together with all colorations associated with them, the comparison was seen as insensitive since it remains the prime responsibility of the government to protect all lives and properties.

    It was unexpected of a president to seek to whittle down the gravity of the killings arising from the insurgency of the herdsmen by comparing the casualty figures with the killings perpetrated by armed bandits whose real motivation had before now, remained largely inexplicable. Now, we have been told that it is all about illegal mining of gold in the hinterlands of that state. We are also being made to realize that some highly placed traditional rulers have been collaborating with the bandits to the extent of compromising military operations. It is surprising that the government is coming to terms with these realities very belatedly.

    These are very startling revelations that may have been responsible for the relative ease with which the bandits operate, kill and main defenceless people forcing them to flee their ancestral homes. Many have since been displaced and deprived of their livelihood with villages remaining ghosts of what they used be.

    What has emerged from the measures taken by the federal government is that all this while it lacked proper understanding of the real causes and motivation of those who have over these years sworn that Zamfara will know no peace. And that is a sad commentary on the professional competences of those charged with the management of the nation’s security affairs. Since the diagnosis of an ailment is half way to its cure, it is little surprising that in the absence of clinical understanding of what the security profile of the state entailed, the situation had remained largely hopeless.

    If the actions of the federal government and the reasons adduced to justify them are anything to repose confidence on, a dramatic improvement in the security situation of that state will soon begin to emerge. But traditional rulers from the state have picked holes with the claims that some of them are supporting the bandits. They have tasked the minister of defence to name the suspects or take responsibility for failure to get a handle to the degenerate situation in the state.

    One other thing that emerged from the disclosures is the existence of large quantity of gold deposits in that state which in turn, brought about illegal mining activities and banditry. It also came with the revelation that some companies were licensed by the government to mine gold in that state. This should come as a surprise to many. Before now, the overall contribution of gold to the nation’s revenue base has largely remained unknown to many.

    It is clear that the insecurity that has left Zamfara a ghost of its former self; bears the same imprimatur with what has overtime been known in the oil bearing states as militancy. Yet, those in authorities were unable to understand that banditry in that part of the country was essentially, economic deterministic. It is really surprising that the same government that has been waging relentless battles against oil bunkerers and militants that sabotage oil production could not understand the incalculable harm the activities of illegal miners and sundry criminals have wrought to the national revenue base.

    Beyond all this, the security situation in the country is really something to worry about. President Buhari must demonstrate through foolproof measures that he has what it takes to secure lives and property in this country. It is not enough to dish out orders to security chiefs to take drastic measures to tame the scourge. We have seen these orders time without number without solution at sight. A government is challenged by crisis of relevance and legitimacy when it fails to live up to the very reason for its existence.

  • Zamfara killings: Buhari has abandoned us, survivors lament

    For those far from Zamfara and environs, where bandits have literally taken over the reign, kidnapping and killing people with abandon, it may just be exaggerated news. But for those who have been through the horror and have seen the miscreants in action, it is something hard to imagine. Gboyega Alaka, who spoke with some people in the region, reports.

    What could make a BBC-trained journalist of Kadaria Ahmed’s standing lose her cool, so much as to go for the jugular of the governor of her home state and describe him as “the most useless governor in the history of Nigeria?”

    That must be the question on the lips of many, who watched the broadcast practitioner’s outburst online or read the report in the news.

    But the former Managing Editor at the defunct 234Next newspapers, who as recently as February this year reminded the whole world of the stuff she is made of when she practically put the two frontline presidential candidates in the recent general election on the precipice, literally answered the question herself, when she went further to declare that, “This is a governor whose action to the killings in his state was to resign as Chief Security officer… I don’t know what he is still doing in office… The fact that they (Zamfara people) are getting killed does not concern him. He lives most of his time here in Abuja…. What sort of leadership is that?”

    Kadariah’s outburst however pales in the face of Dr Sulaiman Shuaibu Shinkafi, an academician and Safkin Shanun Shinkafi’s vituperation. As far as Shinkafi is concerned, Governor Abdul Aziz Yari is “the most useless governor in the world – not even in Nigeria, because he cares nothing about his people’s security, wouldn’t offer the victims of the bandits food nor tell them sorry.”

    According to Shinkafi,  “The situation in our state, especially in Shinkafi Local Government, where I am domiciled, is really bad and deteriorating by the day. So many people are being killed by bandits on a daily basis, in 50s and hundreds. Just yesterday (last Tuesday), a whole village, Baje, was sacked, set on fire and 120 people killed. The week before, 52 people were killed in a village called Gidan da Mousa and Kursasa; and last month, 105 people were killed in Kware ward in Shinkafi Local Government, with nobody looking their way in terms of relief or condoling with them. Even as I speak with you, somebody is whispering to me that the bandits have entered a town called Shanawa and killing people. In Baje Village where I said about 120 people were killed, some victims and corpses are still in the bush, earlier today, we went in search of them.”

    “The funniest thing is we don’t have IDP camps. Whenever we try to set up IDP camps in the primary schools, the local government people will come and chase them away. So as we speak, people are literally living on the streets, destitute and in palpable fear.”

    When asked what the police have done in the face of this breakdown of law, Shinkafi said, “Nothing. Part of the problem we have is that we have police officers who have stayed like 15 years in the area and have more or less become too familiar with the miscreants. You’d recall that the president said not too long ago that a police officer shouldn’t stay more than three years in a place. That way, it is hard to co-opt or corrupt them.”

    To make matters worse, Shinkafi said the hospitals are in very bad shapes. “If you go to the hospital with bullet wounds, you will die there – because there are no medicines and no drugs. The personnel there are so handicapped. Ordinary fence, the hospital does not have; believe me, I cannot even send my dog there for treatment.”

    Asked what the local government is doing about the condition of the hospital, Shinkafi said, “All the local government chairmen are interested in is to cart the money and go. And this is because they are not responsible to the people because they were not voted but imposed by the governor.”

    No-one is safe

    Painting a picture of the helpless situation, Dr. Shinkafi said, “Nobody is safe. All the big men, chairmen, Secretary to the local government… have migrated to Gusau, the state capital. So it is only the poor villagers who have nowhere to go that are left at the bandits’ mercy. We are the ones who are being killed. And when these killings happen, nobody in authority has a word of sympathy for us. Even the president has neglected us. We are accusing President Muhammadu Buhari because he is not saying sorry to us. When they abducted the Chibok girls, he invited the parents, consoled them  and gave them money. And when they brought them back after negotiating  with the terrorists, he sponsored their schooling; but in our case, he has not done or said anything.

    “So I can tell you that the president is the first person to neglect us. He allowed the governor to kill us and to do anything with us, as if we did not give him our votes. But during the election, we saw how almost ten soldiers were guiding ballot boxes. And now, he has abandoned us to the mercy of the bandits. What kind of nonsense is that?”

    To further underline what he considers the president’s biased positioning on security matters, Shinkafi said, “SARS killed Kolade (the gentleman who was shot and killed at a football viewing centre in Lagos) and the president publicly spoke against it and immediately ordered an investigation. The culprits are being dealt with as we speak. But in our case, nothing. I have not seen any bandits killed or taken to court.”

    To make matters worse, Shinkafi could not even explain the motive for the killings. “They are killing people, they are kidnapping people for ransom. If they kidnap your brother, they ask you to bring N30million. If you don’t have N30million, you keep negotiating until it gets to like N15million or N10million. If you are not able to present the money, they kill your brother, husband, daughter, son, as the case may be. As I am talking to you, they have seized 19 children of between 6-8years in Shinkafi and are demanding N30million. They abducted one pregnant woman and we understand that she has given birth in their camp yesterday. So most times, if we don’t sell our things and raise the money, the hostage’s life is at risk. Sometimes, we call our brothers from Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, who send money, or we sell our houses, cattle or go to the mosque to raise money.”

    March for Zamfara, a cry to the world

    Shinkafi therefore said last week’s protests, tagged, March For Zamfara, which held in Abuja and Kaduna were to “inform the whole world about what is happening in Zamfara; and to get the government to do something.”

    He attested to seeing a bit of changes since then. “I’ve seen some military people; I’ve seen about 100 vehicles in my local government; but what they do is mainly to stage a show of force, dance and go back, leaving us at the mercy of the bandits.”

    Ironically, this has translated to more danger for the people, because as Shinkafi claimed, the bandits usually come back to attack and hit the people harder, once the military have retracted. “Often, anytime the military comes to disturb them, they will just come and kill people in the nearby villages. So I will recommend that the military make their stay more permanent by stationing their vehicles with their men at strategic positions.

    Dangulbi, community under siege

    According to Shehu Kabiru (not real name), a medical doctor domiciled in Gusau, a large spread of the Dansadau Emirate including Dangulbi has been under siege, with the people seemingly hostages in their homes and communities since October 2018. The road linking Dangulbi village to the state capital, Gusau, which is just about 100 kilometers has become a death trap on which vehicles can hardly speed. The prowling bandits along the route have therefore been taking advantage of this to ambush vehicles to attack, kill and kidnap.

    According to Kabiru, “Once the vehicle gets to certain bad spots, they will just start shooting. Often, they first pick out the driver; and when the vehicle eventually stops or rolls into a ditch, they swoop on it and kidnap the passengers. So many people have been killed in the process, and several have been injured. One of my family friends fell victim and is in a hospital in Kano as we speak. They shot him on the leg, he sustained severe fracture that we couldn’t handle in Gusau here. The operation on the leg cost about N1million because it was so damaged that they had use synthetic materials to fill it. One of my primary school teachers also fell victim. He didn’t survive, he was killed on the road; same for one of my friend’s father. So it is a very dangerous situation we’re talking about here.”

    Altogether, Kabiru said about 20 Dangulbi villagers must have been killed by the bandits along that route alone, with so many others injured.

    Asked if there weren’t alternative routes, Kabiru said there are only two alternative routes. “The other route is to follow through Anka Local Government. Even that road is very bad, so when the people abandoned the regular road, the bandits go to that other road and block it. So our people  now have to go through Kebbi State; they end up travelling about 480 kilometers instead of 100. That is how bad the situation has become.”

    This has inevitably affected the economy of Dangulbi and other communities across Dansadau Emirate  adversely. The people who are mostly businessmen and farmers cannot transport their goods and produces to the market in Kano, en route the south. The people are also fast abandoning their homes. Under the prevalent situation, they seem to have come to the conclusion that self preservation is first before prosperity.

    Extra-judicial killing, cause of crisis

    Kabiru, when asked to trace the genesis of the whole banditry crisis, however said he does not believe in the whole theory of fight over gold mining being bandied on the social media. Rather, he said the whole thing  took roots in certain injustices of extra-judicial killings that had been perpetuated as far back as 2007 in the Dansadau Emirate.

    “Then there were lots of armed robbery incidences, with notorious robbers targeting the wealthy businessmen. Because the area was neglected by the government, the roads were bad; we had only one functioning secondary school, and one day secondary school. As a result, there was lots of poverty and illiteracy and we didn’t have enough security. The robbers were so emboldened that they even came to the markets in broad daylight and openly demanded for money from the wealthy businessmen or they would come and attack them. A family friend of mine, Alhaji Alhassan was the first victim of these robbers. They killed him. Sometimes, they would rob you in the night and come and mock you openly in the market during the day, telling the whole world how you were such a coward and stuff.

    “So the people came together and formed Yankasai or vigilante. The Yankasai went after the thieves, because they were well known and started killing them extra-judicially. So, yes, most of them were criminals, but some were innocent. The Fulani felt threatened, and as a reaction, some young ones amongst them formed their own association to protect themselves, led by the now late Dan Buhari n Dadi. Virtually all the Fulani communities had representatives in that association. They went into the forest, got themselves armed – no-one knows how they got so much arms – trained themselves, and started the counter-attacks that gradually escalated. They became threats when they started taking hard substances and started going after even fellow Fulani people, rustling their cattle, and of course, attacking the Hausa.”

    Gradually, the attacks spread to other parts of the state like Shinkafi, Bernin Magaji and environs; but Kabiru insisted that it all started in Anka and Dansadau Emirate.

    Asked what how the security forces have reacted to the situation, Kabiru said, the military were initially helpful, especially following the president’s launch of Operation Harbin Kunama III in 2017. Soldiers were deployed in Dansadau, Magani and Dangulbi and during that time, there were no attacks inside the towns and villages. The soldiers and police were able to maintain normalcy and the bandits restricted their attacks to the highways.

    Despite that, Kabiru said the bandits have carried out three attacks on villages around his native Dangulbi in recent times, killing a number of people. He would not give a figure, but said they are not in hundreds, as have been allegedly recorded in places like Shinkafi.

    At the moment, Kabiru testifies that the situation has improved, especially with the launch of operation Harbin Kunama III, with the people able to go about their daily activities; even travel the dreaded highway without any record of attack. But he is afraid this may not last, as the people envisage that these bandits would come out with more venom, once the soldiers leave.

    The solution, according to him, would be to maintain a more permanent stay in the area and attack the bandits base in the forest. Every local knows their camp, but they are so deep in the forest and the terrain so difficult to penetrate by the military vehicles. “Even the Alfa Jets the military are using, may not be suitable, as these guys are always on motorbikes. So I will suggest the military deploys helicopters with guns,” Kabiru said.

    Governor not sympathetic

    About the governor and what he thinks of the condemnation he’s been attracting in the face of the crisis, Kabiru said, “The problem of the governor is that he is not sympathetic to the people. But what we’ve heard from his aides is that he is doing his best. They told us he’s been giving money to the security people to take care of their logistics. But his not coming to visit and sympathise with the people has made the people feel that he is detached from them.”

    About the alleged poor state of the hospitals, Kabiru who works in a specialist hospital in the state capital, said it is the state government that is footing the treatment bills of all victims of the bandits attacks. “They have been doing that for almost two years now, and you know that orthopaedic treatment is very expensive.”

    We cannot afford to fold our arms and watch, says Kaduna-based protester

    Taiye Hussein Sulaiman is a Kaduna-based businessman and one of the frontliners in the Kaduna zone of the recent ‘March for Zamfara’, staged across the Northwestern states and the FCT Abuja. He spoke to Gboyega Alaka on how the march became imperative, considering that the Boko Haram menace started as  pockets of incidents, until it became the monster the country is struggling with.

    You guys practically took the nation by storm. Why exactly was the March last week important?

    The march was for Zamfara, and one of our demands was for state of emergency to be declared in the Northwest zone. Our primary focus was Zamfara. But more importantly, what is happening in Zamfara is beginning to gain ground and spread to places like Katsina, as we now have incidences of kidnapping in that state. However the Zamfara case is not just about kidnapping, even though that is now such a huge business there. You have people who go to villages on motorcycles, usually three on a bike, raze down buildings and kill people indiscriminately. Our worry is that it is gaining traction, moving into other Northwest states like Katsina, Sokoto. We all know that the Kaduna-Abuja highway is now kidnappers’ haven. And that’s why we are demanding a state of emergency in Zamfara State and across the Northwest zone. Don’t forget Zamfara also shares border with Kaduna; so we really cannot afford to fold our arms. Like I cited in my letter to Channels Television, I said we need to take a cue from what happened in Borno and begin to holistically address this growing menace. The Borno case started within a specified community. the people saw what was happening and ignored because it wasn’t affected them, until it engulfed the whole state, and then spread to Adamawa and Yobe. Notably, Zamfara also shares border with Niger Republic; with our porous borders, you can see that the Zamfara situation has a lot of semblance to the Borno situation. Since the kidnapping has crossed over to Katsina, where next, if not Kaduna? The other day, it took Governor El-Rufai himself to foil a kidnap attempt and rescue some victims. But the very next day, they were there again. That tells you how emboldened they have become.

    You were in the Kaduna group…

    Yes. We wanted the governor of Kaduna, Mallam Nasir El-rufai to intervene on our behalf with the president because we know he is one of the president’s favourites. We no longer have trust in the Zamfara State governor to handle the matter. In my address to the state governor, who was represented by his spokesperson, Samuel Aruwan, we said the Governor of Zamfara is not seen to be doing enough. Even the president, Muhammadu Buhari, is not doing enough. Up until that march, he had not condoled with the Zamfara people. He went to campaign there and did not mention a word about the situation. So we were like, since the governor had come out to say the crisis was beyond him, what are we waiting for? We mapped out five states for the protest: the FCT, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto and Zamfara. However, when we took our letter to the police in Zamfara, we were told there weren’t enough men to escort us. They gave us excuse that their operatives were in the bush fighting the bandits. The DSS chief also told us it was pretty dangerous to stage the protest without police protection, as we could be attacked. His argument wasn’t convincing, as the protest was for Gusau, which is miles away from the bandits’ zones. Besides the protest was hardly going to take more than 15 minutes.

    We thought that was suspicious. But it didn’t stop us. We echoed our voices loud in Kaduna, Abuja and Sokoto. The Sokoto march was such a success too. Good to know that the Kaduna State government has passed a law prescribing the death sentence for those convicted of kidnapping.

    Tell us about the situation in Zamfara. From the feelers you’ve got, which area is the most affected?

    The most affected as we speak is Zurmi. In Zurmi, what you have is a series of attacks. You see a group of men in threes, on a convoy of motorbikes going to attack villages, burn down the buildings and kill people. Just yesterday (last Tuesday) a senior adviser to the Zamfara governor was seen on Channels Television personally confirming that about 200 people were killed in Maru. So whatever figures you are hearing may not be exaggerated. In Zurmi, there is a forest called Dumburun. It shares a border with Niger Republic; it has been fingered as the place these bandits camp and launch their attacks on villages. On the 6th or 7th of April, just the other week, bandits were said to have attacked and burnt down houses and food stores. In Mudunmuwa District, four women were kidnapped, but the villagers stood up to the bandits and were able to rescue two of the women, while the other two were taken away. I’m not sure how much they are demanding, but of course kidnappings usually come with demands for ransom. In Kaura Namoda, about 50 civilian Joint Task Force members known as Yankasai were killed by the bandits. I think that was reported on the NTA network news.

    The murder of the JTF guys must be a reprisal.

    Probably. Nobody has been able to pin it down to a particular reason. A lot of people are coming from the ethnic point of view. I’m not sure we really have ethnic differences. We are largely Hausa/Fulani. As the federal government have suggested, mining may also be a reason. Some people have alleged that it is a territorial fight amongst those who are into mining there; while some have alleged that it is an overdue reprisal. Some years ago, there were killings of some Fulani, and it is being suggested that they are now retaliating.

    What has the police been doing?

    I don’t know. A special adviser to the Zamfara governor claimed yesterday that over 574 or so vehicles have been purchased for the security outfits. But I’m really not sure of that. If true, why didn’t it make the news? Why didn’t the governor milk out some goodwill from it? Because as we speak, there isn’t much to show on active security and I believe the governor would have hyped on such move.

    Has the military moved in?

    Before now, the military’s operations were largely castigated because they were basically in Gusau. Last week, I was told that 44 people were killed in Kwara Village in Shinkafi Local Government, so, staying in Gusau does not solve the problem. Some even claim that the military move in during the day, demonstrate and stage some show of force, but go back to Gusau to sleep. So the bandits would still come and attack at night. But after our marches, you can see signs that the government has been trying to be on its feet. There have been claims that about 70 victims were rescued.

    People have also been saying that the state governor, Abdul-Aziz Yari does not stay in the state but in Abuja. Unfortunately, his SA literally confirmed this, when he gave excuses that the governor is not in Zamfara because he is meeting with the president in Abuja over the situation in the state. I don’t know the protocol involved in seeing the president, but for someone who is also chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, how many minutes would it take to meet with the president?

  • It is ridiculous to say we bomb innocent people, says Air Force

    The Nigerian Air Force last night said it was ridiculous insinuations that it air strikes in Zamfara were targeted at innocent people

    Its spokesman Air commodore Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement that the allegation was completely false.

    He said:”  The attention of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been drawn to some media reports insinuating that the recent air strikes conducted by its Air Task Force for Operation DIRAN MIKIYA killed only innocent civilians in the areas attacked and not bandits. The NAF finds such reports rather ridiculous because most of the locations attacked are within the Rugu, Sububu and Kagara Forests general area, which are known armed bandits hideouts that have been attacked in the past, without any outcry. Besides, the NAF target selection process for air operations is particularly rigorous and methodical in order to ensure proper target identification and thereby prevent strikes on wrong locations”.

    ” For the avoidance of doubts, the public is to please note that the locations attacked from 8 to 11 April 2019 were selected based on human intelligence (HUMINT) reports obtained from security agencies and other government sources, traditional and community leaders as well as reliable, vetted informants. In addition, NAF also has Special Forces (SF) personnel operating in some of the areas attacked, who provided additional intelligence. These were all further confirmed by days of detailed day and night Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions to ensure proper targeting for avoidance of collateral damage”.

    “To further ensure this, as standard practice, NAF attack aircraft on air interdiction missions are accompanied by ISR platforms that guide them to designated targets. Furthermore, NAF pilots, by training and in line with extant Rules of Engagement (ROEs) for the operation, do not attack any location if it is observed that non-combatants, especially women and children, are present. In such cases, the pilots would rather return to Base with their munitions unexpended. Consequently, it is inconceivable that the NAF would attack locations where innocent civilians reside”.

    Read also: Air Force bombs bandits

    ”  In view of the foregoing, the NAF finds it rather mischievous that anyone would spread such deliberate misinformation whilst the Service is doing its best to effectively respond to the challenges facing the good people of Zamfara State and its environs. Rather than making such spurious and unsubstantiated allegations, NAF requests that anyone with evidence to the effect that innocent civilians were targeted by the NAF air strikes should produce such evidence.

    ” In keeping with its established ethos of professionalism, the NAF shall not be drawn into any unnecessary controversy based on speculations or outright falsehoods, but will rather remain committed to ensuring the safety and security of all Nigerians. Accordingly, we shall continue to work assiduously, in synergy with sister Services and other security agencies, to rid the Northwest of all criminal elements”.

    “The general public can, therefore, rest assured that the NAF will not be deterred but will sustain its air operations to facilitate a return to normalcy that would enable Nigerians in the area pursue their legitimate aspirations. In this regard, the NAF hereby advocates public support, and not distracting and unsubstantiated allegations, as its personnel continue to sacrifice towards eliminating all threats to the security and, indeed, the development of our beloved Country.”