The Zamfara State Killing Field RingTrue By Yemi Adebowale Phone 08054699539 Email: yemi.adebowalethisdaylive.com (mailto:yemi.adebowalethisdaylive.com) When Governo
When Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State dumped the Peoples Democratic Party last July for the All Progressives Congress , he declared that the issue of insecurity in his state would be effectively tackled with his membership of the party running the show at the federal level. While announcing his defection, Matawalle expressed confidence that Zamfara State would experience growth and all the dividends of democracy; that killings and kidnapping would become history in the state.
According to a statement by one of Matawalle’s aides last week, killings and kidnappings persist in Gusau, Tsafe, Gummi, Bukkuyum, Anka Bungudu, Maru, Maradun and Kaura Namoda local government areas. In fact, the governor had to completely shut two local government areas – Anka and Bukkuyum – while hoping that security agencies would take advantage of the total restriction to checkmate the terrorists.
I will never forget how Fulani militias invaded Kadawa Village, in Zurmi Local Government Area and killed 93 people. Within three days in April last year, 80 people were killed by Fulani militias and in counter killings by Yan Sakai in series of attacks in four villages – Gobirawa, Rini, Gora, and Madoti Dankule – all in Bakura and Maradun LGAs.
That was the day I gave up on this governor. At a point, I was convinced that Matawalle was enjoying the game of terror that was, daily, claiming scores of lives in his state. Last January, he said the terror would not end soon because “some people are behind it.” What Matawalle was telling Nigerians was that the people behind terror attacks are bigger than federal and Zamfara State governments combined.