Table of Contents
- Importance of Military Operations
- Effectiveness of Previous Dialogues
- Ongoing Banditry Issues
- Recent Incident Response
- Call for Government Support
The Northern Elders Progressive Group has stated that continuous military operations are the most effective means to eradicate banditry in Zamfara State.
In a statement released on Monday, the group's coordinator, Alhaji Yusuf Abubakar, expressed that previous attempts at dialogue and reconciliation with bandit leaders yielded minimal results, reinforcing the necessity for ongoing military engagement.
“Continuous operations remain the most effective strategy to eliminate banditry,” Abubakar stated.
For over a decade, banditry has afflicted Zamfara and the broader North-West region, with gangs involved in kidnappings, cattle rustling, armed robbery, and assaults on communities, resulting in the displacement of thousands.
In response to an incident on Saturday, November 15, when bandits allegedly killed six individuals and abducted around 64 others in Fegin Baza village, located in the Tsafe Local Government Area, Abubakar called for decisive military intervention to address this issue.
He highlighted that the recent visit from former governor and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has played a role in fostering renewed stability and enhancing current military operations in the area.
The group urged the federal government to supply additional equipment and logistical support to uplift the troops' morale and prioritize the fight against banditry in vulnerable communities across the North-West.
