A lawmaker from Zamfara State, Hon. Hamisu Faru Nasarawar Burkullu, has said that over 70 per cent of the communities he represents at the Zamfara State House of Assembly are under the control of armed bandits.
The lawmaker who stated this in an interview with LEADERSHIP said that new sets of armed bandits, likely from neighbouring countries, have established bases along Bukkuyum Forest and are ruling most of the communities in his constituency.
He further said the armed bandits’ activities are becoming more alarming along Adabka, Kyaram, Kairu, and Gwashi.
Other villages include Ruwan Jema, Ruwan Rana, Gaza Hula, Kurfar Fanya, Barayar Zakj and Rafin Gero. They were all affected by the new armed bandits’ threat.
He said that it is devastating that the period when farmers are supposed to prepare for this year’s farming season is when the area is experiencing a resurgence of armed bandits.
“It is a pity indeed to see these communities couldn’t go to their farms,” he added.
“The suspected armed bandits had so far killed about 20 people from the time they started their heinous attacks to date,” he said, adding that the situation has gone out of control to the extent that locals are not able to participate in this year’s farming activities.
He specifically pointed out that the people of Ruwan Rana and Bukkuyum South are left in a serious dilemma as bandits continue to inflict serious hardship on them, to the extent that some of them have to flee for their safety.
“Bandits came to our areas in large numbers, killed several people and rustled an unspecified number of cattle,” the lawmaker added.
He therefore called on the federal and state governments to come to their aid, as the activities of these bandits are becoming more threatening.
