The Zamfara Council of Chiefs has called on the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali to as a matter of responsibility and urgency name the traditional rulers allegedly colluding with armed criminals in the state.
In a communiqué signed by the chairman of the state’s council of chiefs, Alhaji Attahiru Muhammad Ahmad and read by the Emir of Bungudu, Alhaji Hassan Attahiru shortly after their emergency meeting in Gusau on Thursday, the emirs said the allegations against them is reprehensible and an ‘attempt to discredit them’.
“Over the past years, traditional rulers have cooperated with the state government and security agencies by providing information about location, routes and names of persons involved in armed banditry and cattle rustling. But, the military and other security agencies have failed to be on top of the situation,” they said.
However, the emirs said they appreciate the presidential marching order given to the security agencies to immediately bring an end to the situation once and for all.
“This can only be achieved if the main camps of the bandits are taken over and security personnel stationed there for a considerable period of time, thereby depriving the bandits of territory, mobility and supply routes,” they added.
The emirs also noted that the airstrikes conducted by the military in the state do not hit the main camps of the bandits
They said reports from Mutu in Gusau and Tsafe local governments, Tangaram and Dumburum villages in Anka and Zurmi local government areas among others indicated that the areas shelled were not the actual hideouts of bandits.
“We called on the federal government to come to the aid of the state, especially the people in our rural communities who are in very dire needs of life supporting material. Thousands have left their homes, and farming and all economic activities have been put to standstill in most rural areas,” the emirs noted.
