Marafa LG Chairman Faults Defence Minister Over Fresh Killings In Zamfara

The Chairman of Marafa Local Government Area in Zamfara State, Yahaya Abubakar Yari, has criticised the Minister of State for Defence over the continued killings in the state following the burial of 14 villagers reportedly killed by armed attackers.

Speaking at the graveside of the victims, Yari said the latest attack showed that the government had failed to adequately protect residents from persistent insecurity.

“I promise you this is not about politics, but what happened today is enough for us to come out and state the truth. The government is not serious,” he said.

Addressing the minister directly, the council chairman said all their hopes lied with Matawalle as they have no other representative from the area besides him.

“Your Excellency, the Minister of State for Defence, we don’t have any representative at the federal level except you. You are the person who carries our voices, but this atrocity happened today in your constituency, in your senatorial district, your neighbouring local government,” Yari said.

The chairman also challenged the minister’s earlier assertion that security had improved in the region, saying the latest killings contradicted such claims.

“I saw your video a while back that the security situation has improved and I couldn’t say anything. But today I am at the graveyard in this community. What justification will I give to Allah? You have failed yourself and failed your people, and Allah will not let you go scot-free,” he said.

Yari further alleged that three months earlier, the minister had promised to deploy troops  to protect communities affected by bandit attacks but that the pledge had not been fulfilled.

“Three months ago you promised us you would send 2,000 soldiers to defend our people, but now we have lost these people and you will answer for this on the Day of Judgment,” he said.

The attack is the latest in a series of deadly incidents to hit communities in Zamfara State despite ongoing military operations against armed groups.