Sanusi Rikiji, the Speaker of the Zamfara State House Assembly, has stated that about 50 persons, which includes members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, were gruesomely killed in Zamfara on Tuesday.

the Rt.Hon who stated this in a condolence visit to the  Kaura Namoda Emirate,  stated that the incident was due to CJTF confrontation with the armed bandits in a community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of the state.

The number one lawmaker who was the leader of the high powered state government delegation stated that the security state of the state is worrisome.

“We were told that the members of Civilian JTF had mobilised people from Sakajiki community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area and confronted the bandits in the forest, which led to the killing of over 50 persons, including members of CJTF,” he said.

Rikiji, who is the Chairman of the State Government Relief and Damage Assessment Committee, described the act of the CJTF as “unprofessional,” saying, “confronting the bandits is not the duty of CJTF members.”

“Their duty is to support security personnel to carry out operations, not to lead operations. Only security agents have the right to organise operation to confront bandits,” he added.

He urged traditional rulers in the state to caution CJTF members in their respective domains to avoid taking laws into theirs hands.

“This is the directive from Governor Abdul’aziz Yari that CJTF members should not confront bandits again; let them cooperate with the security personnel.

“We have already received the list of the number of the deceased and other affected victims from the local government chairman, with the aim to assist them.

“The state government would provide assistance to the families of the deceased and other victims of the incident very soon,”

In his response Muhammad Asha,the Emir of Kaura Namoda, praised the  state government for the kind gesture and disclosed that the government will continue to support the state government to address the problem.

The Executive Chairman, Lawal Abdullahi  further appreciates the state government for assisting the victims.

It wil be recalled that recently  acting information officer of operation Saharan Daji, said six soldiers were also killed while the troops rescued 80 people who have been kidnapped.

“The troops have continued to dominate the Areas of Operation with aggressive patrols,” he said.

“Troops also maintain day and night patrols deep into the forest areas and points/routes to deny the bandits freedom of action while building confidence of the locals.

“The troops also had several encounters with bandits during the period in focus and neutralized 37 bandits. A total of 6 suspected bandits informants, rustlers, kidnappers and logistics suppliers were arrested during this period.”

Abiade did not provide details on the slain solders, but he said victims comprising men, women and children, were rescued inside Dumburum forest during the mop-up operations.

He added that the intensity and redoubled efforts in the conduct of military activities in the past months seem to be yielding tremendous successes, leading to the killing of some of the bandits, recovery of guns, ammunition and rustled cattle

Over the months, suspected bandits have continually attacked Zamfara communities, killing scores and abducting people for ransom.

 

 

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