As terrorism continues to rage like wildfire in Nigeria, some states have been more affected than others. Zamfara State has especially been caught in the eye of the storm. Indeed, the “Farming is our Pride” state can be considered the cradle of banditry in Nigeria. Initially, the attraction for the bandits was said to be the gold deposits in the state. It was even said that some traditional rulers in the state were actively colluding with the bandits to destabilise the state.
However, banditry in the state has since gone beyond gold deposits. Now, it is no longer clear what the bandits want. From a recent documentary titled the “Bandit warlords of Zamfara,” which was aired by the BBC on July 25, it appeared that the grouse of bandits in Zamfara State has since gone beyond gold deposits and other economic reasons. From the documentary, it appeared the conflict has now become a tussle between the Hausa and Fulani communities of Zamfara State.
On September 2, terrorists struck a Jumu’at mosque in Zugu, Zamfara State where they abducted an unspecified number of worshippers. Among those snatched was the second imam of the mosque.
According to some residents of the town, the terrorists came on foot with their guns inside their gowns. They fired into the air, and when the people were sufficiently terrified, they snatched an unspecified number of people. Most of those snatched had been standing outside the mosque
It remains a horror story of the disintegration of Nigeria’s security architecture that people who throng places of worship for prayers cannot feel safe in where they should feel safest. The attacks in Zugu echo similar attacks which have recently rattled places of worship in Nigeria, spreading death and fear among Nigeria’s religious communities.
Those who should bring terrorism to a screeching halt in Nigeria may be doing their best, but it appears that the war requires something out of the ordinary. The question is whether those responsible can transcend pettiness and rise to the occasion.
In the face of the relentless terrorism in Zamfara State, and the government’s seemingly frantic efforts to prevent true transparency about the situation there, it is laughable that not enough is being done to connet
For things to truly change there, more needs to be done. There is no other way.
- Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com