The insecurity situation in Zamfara State appears to have defiled all solutions.
Recently, the Publicity Secretary of Governor Matawalle’s faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Yusuf Idris Gusau in a press conference said that General Aliyu Gusau (rtd) controls 70 percent of the mining sites in the State which he said attract bandits.
According to him, the General was a National Security Adviser for three times but could not proffer any solution to the banditry activities bedevilling his State.
However, General Aliyu Gusau has not made any official statement regarding the accusations against him but it is believed that the retired soldier treated the accusations with a mere wave of hand following his age and position.
Recall that Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle has last year challenged the retired General to come to Zamfara State and take an oath that he has no hands in the banditry activities ravaging the State.
Security experts are concerned that the current situation in the State would affect the conduct of the 2023 general elections.
A few days ago, the office of an online medium in Gusau, called Thunder Blowers, was attacked.
It was gathered that the managing editor had written to various national and international organisations for assistance, saying that even journalists were no longer safe in the State.
“The state government does not want any opposition or journalists to oppose its activities in the State.
“How can a government work without opposition or journalists? It is only in Zamfara State that this is happening,” he wrote.
Commenting on the attack on the online medium, the chairman of the former Governor Abdulaziz Yari’s faction of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the State, Hon. Lawal Liman Kaura said the attack on journalists was worrisome.
“Press is the fourth estate of the realm and anybody attacking the press is not practicing real democracy.
“The four attributes of the press is to educate, defend government good policies and attack government policies that would not benefit the real public,” he stated.
This medium reports that recently, over 200 innocent people were killed by armed bandits in Anka, Bukuyyum and Gummi Local Government Areas of the State and none of the bandits has been arrested as of the time of filing this report.
Everyone in the State is living in perpetual fear as the bandits are roaring like wounded lions, operating with ease, without challenge.
According to some residents of Zamfara, especially the non-indigenes, they will not stay in the state till the 2023 general elections.
When visited many markets in Gusau, the State capital, most markets were empty as business activities were moving with the lowest ebbs.
There is also observed lack of supply of food items as the villagers no longer participate effectively in farming activities.
Those who have the courage increased the prices of their food items due to banditry activities.
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