Zamfara: 1,321 killed by bandits – Official

The Zamfara State Government has disclosed that no fewer that 1,321 people were killed, 1,181 people injured and over 2,688 hectares of land have been destroyed by bandits in the state.
This was just as some bandits and members of dreaded group, Yankasai, willingly surrendered over 3,000 weapons, including AK47 riffles, SMG, Pump action, G3, Long den guns, locally made guns and cache of arms to the reconciliatory committee in the state.
All the weapons were handed over to the army for custody.
The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Abdullahi Muhhamad Shinkafi, made this known in his presentation to the Senate ad-hoc committee on security infrastructure, led by Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan.
Shinkafi added that over 10,000 houses were destroyed, with over 200 persons abducted by armed bandits.
The committee, during a two-day fact finding visit to the state, was informed by the State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, that security agencies such as the Nigerian Police and Army were unable to contain the atrocities of armed bandits due to lack of ammunitions and insufficient personnel.
The Ad-hoc committee was shocked with horrifying tales by the state government and residents of some communities in Zumi and Maradun local government areas in Zamfara State.
The state government told the panel that the armed bandits who wrecked havoc on communities in the state consist of heavily armed herdsmen and Boko Haram insurgents.
According to accounts by the Deputy Governor, Malam Ibrahim Muhammad, the crisis “has the potential of consuming the state and escalating beyond its borders” if not nipped in the bud by the Federal Government.
Muhammad, who chairs the reconciliation and disarmament committee, disclosed that the state government had in the past negotiated with armed bandits following the kidnapping of forty persons.
He added that the reconciliation process, which led to the disarming of Boko Haram insurgents and bandits, resulted in short lived normalcy that was truncated by some challenges and frustrations, which he refused to disclose.
He said: “The peace process of our committee was launched at a place called Gobirwa Chali, where the representatives of the bandits were met.
“After that, another meeting with the side of Yansakai was held at Dansadau.
“At a point, the reconciled communities even arrested some Boko Haram insurgents, along with their weapons, which include sophisticated rifles, bullets, and bombs.
“The captives were taken to the custody of His Royal Highness, the Emir of Zurmi, Alhaji Abubakar, who in turn handed them over to the military.
“Some bandits and Yankasai willingly surrendered their weapons to the committee.
“The last count indicated the receipt of over 3,000 weapons, which include a large number of AK47 riffles, SMG, Pump action, G3, long dane guns, locally made guns and cache of arms; all the weapons were handed over to the army for custody.”