By Abba Hamisu Sani
Africa-Press – Nigeria. Zamfara is one of the Seven states in the North West geo-Political zone of Nigeria that suffered various insecurity ranging from farmers’ harder crisis , Kidnapping for ransom and banditry.
Efforts by successive administrations in the state to end the situation prove unsuccessful and the criminals continue to grow wings as their activities escalate to the neighboring states like Sokoto,Kebbi and Katsina.
Genesis of the Insecurity in Zamfara State
Research indicated that several reasons were behind the lingering security challenges facing the Nigerian North West state of Zamfara.
These factors include long historical factor such as an antagonistic relationship between the migrants and their host community in the state long before now. Drug Abuse: Among the teeming youths in the state which has bearing on criminal behavior.
Unemployment: The large timing populations in the state are unemployed, so armed banditry, Kidnapping and cattle rustling seem to be lucrative despite the risks involved. The problem of unemployment is further worsened when
cattle rearers lose their herds to Bandits. This situation makes many of them to become
bandits/cattle rustlers and Kidnappers in order to make up for their loss.
Vulnerability: Cattle owners in most cases prefer locations that are remote and often
away from the usual settlements for grazing purposes. This makes them vulnerable to attack by bandits.
Dispersed Settlement: Most of the victims of banditry, Kidnapping and cattle rustling
in the state are based in remote areas of the state without access roads or communication,
and this makes it difficult for them to give timely information about any difficult situation; thereby hindering prompt response.
Gold Mining as another factor
Mining activities are also one of the factors that contributed to the increase of the unrest.Gold is the main mineral resource that attracted different people to the state that used to be safe.
As part of the measures to ensure security in the state governor Dauda Lawan has recently banned the activities of illegal miners in all parts of the state and directed the security agents to shoot on -site whoever engages in illegal mining activity.
Bandits in control of the gold mining site in Anka
Anka is one the fourteen Local government areas in Zamfara state The area is part of the gold rich zone of the state . Reports have recently indicated that bandits have taken over the control of the mining sites within Anka Local government. It also added that the locals and the illegal miners have agreed to work for them for trivial amounts.
A resident of the area who pleaded for anonymity said that they have been living in serious fear.
“We have even forgotten when last we spent a night in the safety of our own homes. The threat of attack is so palpable that we seek refuge in the bushes with some resorting to sleeping on trees or wherever they can find solace.
The sound of gunfire from these terrorists is a terrifying backdrop to their daily lives, forcing us to sleep with one eye open due to the pervasive fear.
Anka Local Government, once a peaceful community, is now marred by insecurity, with the possibility of an attack looming large, a haunting 100% at any time and anywhere.
“The situation has reached such an alarming point that even self-help and community watch guard efforts have been rendered ineffective, as the bandits have grown increasingly powerful,” the source said.
Abdulmutallib Ja’afar, is a lecturer at Zamfara State University (ZSU), Talata Mafara,He said 60 percent of the state’s security situation was unreported.
“The state capital, Gusau, has become a perilous place where no one feels safe. The threat of being kidnapped, killed, injured, or having one’s belongings looted is a daily reality for the people,” He said .
Auwal Durumin-Iya is a Security expert and analyst . He attributed the security situation in Zamfara to a lack of synergy in the fight against banditry between the state and federal governments.
The Detective said Federal , state and Local governments must work together to tackle the security problems in Zamfara State.He added that without synergy no meaningful development will be achieved as far as surmounting the security challenges in Zamfara State and in all the states affected by the insecurity.
The analyst advised the security apparatus that include the Military ,police,Civil Defence and the Vigilante group to intensify effort and work with trusted community members to get relevant information that will assist them in locating the criminals .
However the most important aspect that contributed to the lingering insecurity in Zamfara state is bad governance and politicians.
The state which was created in 1996 out of old Sokoto State has been ruled by five civilian Governors from 1999 to 2023.
Four out of these governors have less to show interns of project and programme execution that contribute to the economic growth of the rural state.
The present governor of the state Dauda Lawan is less than six month in office,if he follows the suit of his predecessor the situation will continue but the hope is that he will act in different manner towards tackling economic,employment and creating enabling environment for investors to come to the state through providing lasting solution to the problem.
On the same vein there is a need for creating mass awareness to the local miners and educating them on the importance of establishing mining cooperative societies hence the change from illegal to legal miners.
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