By Ahmed Salkida
Zamfara state in the last seven days is reeling helplessly, practically soaked in its own blood. Over 100 were reportedly slaughtered with as much number abducted. Some 20 students in a Madarasa are among the abducted.
The terrorists, on 27 February, 2019, invaded Kawaye village in Bagega, Anka Local government area. Witnesses report that the gunmen claimed that they came on vengeance over the killing of their members by vigilantes. They razed down houses, vehicles and everything in their way.
Kawaye village in Bagega alone, in the course of the 27 February invasion, 13 were killed and 42 persons abducted. It was designed to be a strong message to other communities that may stand on its way. On the following day in Gwashi, over 30 persons were ambushed and taken away as captives they made their way from the day’s market. They lost their earnings, but their families are desperately looking for resources to meet up required ransom payments within stipulated deadline.
Residents in the state who are familiar with the scale of ransom demands say that each of the captives will attract no less than 1 million Naira. Some with links to politically exposed individuals or families attract between 10 million to 20 million Naira.
Only the captives considered bare and under the poverty line are usually let off with #500,000 token. A father (names withheld) said, “I couldn’t mourn my son after he was killed bcz his killers called immediately to demand ransom for my other surviving son in captivity.” The old man said he has never seen a million in cash in his entire life, but forced to raise 2M before his son was freed. “I will spend the rest of my life paying debts, and if I’m ever kidnapped no one should pay any ransom, I would rather die than allow my family go through this.
In Gidan Kaso, Birnin – Magaji LGA, the abductions and killings are unabating. The month of March began with the slaughter of nearly 40 persons in Garin Kwari, Shinkafi LGA. Some of the attacks are only known several days later. Earlier today, no less than 40 persons were killed by terrorists in Kwaren in Shinkafi.
The entire village was still mourning the death of over 30 persons, 3 days ago. The attacks in Zamfara are too many, too frequent for any reporter to keep pace with. The people in Zamfara seem to have given up all hope of seeing any end to the bloodletting in the state.
The villagers have become vulnerable to their political leaders as they are to the terrorists that kill, maim and abduct them, at will.
Many of the victims that voted in the last elections are too poor and distressed to even ask those they voted for questions, many just want handouts to survive the day.
Several irresponsible politicians took advantage of this desperate situation. The security situation in #Zamfara also delayed INEC officials and materials from reaching several destinations and voting ended early enough for the officials to return to the LG headquarters and the state capital, many could not vote, those that voted did not witness the count. “We have to return to safety to count the votes,” said an INEC Ad hoc staff in Gusau.
These obvious gaps apparently created room for electoral malpractices to be carried out on a massive scale across #Zamfara, according to many accounts.
