We’ve paid over N200m to bandits as ransom in 3 years, Zamfara community says in protest at Govt House
By IBRAHIM KANOMA, Gusau
A community leader in Nahuce district of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Musa Abdullahi Manager, has disclosed that within the last three years the community has contributed N200 million as ransom to bandits, due to incessant banditry attacks in the community.
He made this disclosure while speaking to journalists shortly after leading a peaceful demonstration to Government House in Gusau, to inform the governor what they are going through as a result of bandit attacks.
Musa Abdullah, who was a former Local Government chairman of Bungudu Local Government, said presently they have 13 people in the hands of bandits for whom N5 million has already been paid but the bandits refused to release them until two brand new motorcycles are given to them, which he said the community can no longer afford.
He appealed to Governor Mohammed Bello Matawalle to come to their aid by stationing military and mobile police station in the area. He further said the community had employed the services of vigilante group but are not enough as they cannot withstand pressure of constant attack by bandits as it has become a daily affair.
Musa said all the prominent personalities in the community had relocated to the city and appealed to Federal Government to send more military hardware to get rid of the bandits in their community.
