The activities of bandits in Zamfara State, North-West Nigeria, have claimed over 3,000 lives with the state government spending some N17bn in the past seven years fighting the problem.
The Secretary to the Government of Zamfara, Prof Abdullahi Shinkafi, made the disclosure on Sunday in Gusau at a town hall meeting, organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
The meeting was called to find a lasting solution to the worsening insecurity in the state.
According to Shinkafi, the banditry has resulted in the death of over 3,000 people, destruction of over 2,000 homes, burning of over 500 cars and kidnapping of over 500 people for ransom.
He said that the money was spent from 2011 to date, to procure vehicles for security agencies, pay allowances to security operatives, provide accommodation for soldiers of the 232 Battalion and other logistics.
“When you hear N17bn, it sounds huge but when you break it down to the various components in tackling insecurity, you will see that it is not even enough.
“In 2011, we provided 457 vehicles for security agencies; in 2012, we provided 2,250 vehicles; in 2014, 77 vehicles and 50 vehicles each in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
“We also have to give funds to those affected by these attacks to at least help them in some way.”
According to Shinkafi, the state has been sitting on a time bomb for long, and there is a need for the citizens, the state and the Federal Government to be more concerned and find ways to stop the bomb from exploding.
He recalled that the crisis which started as a minor clash between herders and farmers had been taken over by armed bandits, who had carried out about 40 attacks.
He attributed the banditry to the shortage of manpower in the state, stressing the need for more indigenes to show interest in joining the security services to protect the state.
TheCitizen
