Buhari steps up security in Zamfara after local people take to the streets to protest killings

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigeria's security forces to step up their presence in Zamfara State in response to the recent spate of killings there and the subsequent protests over government inactivity to curb the menace.

Over recent weeks, armed bandits have carried out several brutal attacks in Birnin Magaji community in Tsafe Local Government Area and Magami community in Faru District of Maradun Local Government Area of the state. Irked by this wanton loss of life, local people took to the streets of Gusau, the state capital demanding government action to curb the menace.

As a result of the protest, President Buhari has ordered the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), the police and other security agencies to restore normalcy. He condemned the killing of innocent Nigerians, which drew out thousands of local people including internally displaced persons (IDPs), who blocked the Gusau-Funtua-Zaria road, leaving commuters stranded for hours.

During the demonstration, protesters set ablaze the secretariat of Tsafe Local Government Area and burnt down 18 vehicles and motorbikes, demanding that the federal government put an end to the orgy of killings of villagers. Initially, peaceful, the protest was hijacked by irate  youths and mobile policemen had to be called in to restore peace.

President Buhari's spokesman Mallam Garba Shehu, said the president expressed his deepest condolences to the families of those killed in the attacks, the government and people of Zamfara State. He added that President Buhari also wished those injured speedy recovery and authorised an assessment trip to Zamfara and Sokoto states by the chief of air staff, Air Marshall Abubakar Baba Sadiq, on Christmas and Boxing days.

Mallam Shehu said: “These horrendous acts of violence are crimes against humanity. This violence must stop.”

President Buhari reassured residents of states under armed bandits’ siege, including Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Niger and Taraba, that their safety is an enduring commitment of his administration and he will continue to ensure that security agencies work round the clock to protect the local population. In Zamfara State, the president has already deployed special and defence headquarters’ has also sent in a special military intervention force, comprising more than 1,000 personnel to respond to the security challenges in the north central and north west geo-political zones.

Aliyu Abubakar, the chairman of Tsafe Local Government Area, said: "These thugs must have been motivated by mischievous politicians who feel that they must always be in control or they will not allow peace to reign. We have recently bought some cars and motorcycles which we intend to distribute to the citizens of the area under our empowerment programme and all these have been raised to ashes including some private properties.”