Unmask Zamfara Explosives, Arms Supplier

Recently, members of the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards arrested a driver conveying 98 explosive devices, N13 million, and three motorcycles to bandits in Bindin village, Maru Local Government Area of the state.

The Guards’ commandant, Mohammed Dalijan, listed other items recovered from the suspect to include cartons of cigarettes, Indian hemp, and crates of apples.

Dalijan said the suspect, Abubakar Abdullahi, was arrested along the Gusau–Dansadau road while travelling to Bindin village, one of the bandits’ strongholds. He added that the suspect confessed he was delivering the items to illegal miners in the area.

Curiously, the driver, according to reports, claimed he was given the items by an unnamed individual to deliver to illegal miners in Bindin village. This clearly indicates an attempt to conceal the identity of whoever gave him the items, suggesting that the driver is part of the criminal gang and should be regarded as such.

There is a strong link between the persistent insecurity in Zamfara, where terrorists have taken control of 13 local government areas, killing, raping, and kidnapping many for ransom, and the activities of illegal miners. We firmly believe that the terrorists are the same individuals behind illegal mining in the state.

For the past 15 years, life in Zamfara State has been harsh for most residents of its numerous rural communities. Villages are repeatedly raided, people are displaced, and they are forced to pay taxes before they can access their farms or even go to markets.

The situation in Zamfara State is so dire that residents in the most affected communities have lost track of how often attacks occur. Earlier this month, gunmen attacked Bunkasau village in the Bukkuyum council area of the state, killing at least 18 people. This is the harsh reality faced by residents of most rural communities in the state.

For the villagers, it is a new normal to see gunmen riding on motorcycles raiding communities, killing, raping, abducting, and rustling cattle. This is the story of Zamfara, where an explosive courier was recently arrested.

It is clear. The items intercepted—explosive devices, drugs, and motorcycles—are commonly used by bandits who attack and kill residents and security personnel. Therefore, the driver is, without question, working for the terrorists.

His arrest once again exposes the complicit attitude of residents, including those in areas most affected by terrorism. Most Nigerians believe, and perhaps rightly so, that these terrorists are often connected to the areas they target. In some cases, they are not only known but also well protected by the citizens, who, paradoxically, are victims of the terror acts carried out by the terrorists.

Fundamentally, this support given to terrorists by some unscrupulous residents, including traditional rulers, is the real reason why the war on terror has remained difficult and will stay so for a long time.

For Nigeria to win this war on terror, the residents must unconditionally and frankly support the security operatives by providing timely and actionable intelligence, refusing to support the terrorists in any way, no matter how remote, and most importantly, own the war.

The war cannot end when those most affected are also involved in shielding the criminals. This is the hard truth we must not ignore.

However, beyond the arrest of the Zamfara driver transporting explosive devices to the terrorists, Nigerians should be interested in knowing what happens next. There are various instances where individuals transporting drugs, fuels, weapons, and other items to the terrorists were arrested, and nothing is heard about them afterwards. We hope the Zamfara incident will not go the same way.

The next task is to unmask those behind this crime and allow the judicial process to take its full course.

The Zamfara Guards’ Commandant stated that the suspect would be handed over to the relevant authority for further action. Which is the appropriate authority? The Nigerian police? How soon will he be transferred? What will happen next? How this process is managed will largely determine whether the war on terror will be won.

We trust that the Zamfara state government, responsible for protecting the lives and property of residents, will take this issue seriously. The driver and those working with him must face the full weight of the law.