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The Chairman of Bukkuyum Local Government Area in Zamfara State, Abubakar Umar-Faru, has said that no fewer than 1,065 people have been killed in the area, while about N2.9 billion has been paid to bandits as ransom and levies from 2015 to date.
Umar-Faru told journalists that rising insecurity has displaced residents and disrupted farming and other economic activities in the local government area.
He said all 17 districts under Bukkuyum have suffered repeated attacks by armed bandits, forcing locals to pay ransom for daily survival.
“From the records I gathered and compiled across the 17 districts in my local government, from 2015 to date, we have lost 1,065 people who were killed by bandits, and paid over N2.9 billion as ransom for kidnapped victims and levies forcibly imposed on our villages and communities,” he said.
The chairman added that armed bandits have rustled 84,928 cows, 52,423 goats, and 187 camels across the council.
He noted that Gando Forest remains a major hideout for criminals and needs decisive military action.
Umar-Faru also revealed that over 200 people, including women and children, have been abducted and are still in captivity.
He urged the Federal Government to launch an offensive against the bandits and praised the appointment of Christopher Musa as Minister of Defence, hoping it will strengthen efforts to end insecurity.
The chairman stressed that while the Zamfara State Government and local authorities are doing their best, they do not have direct control over federal security agencies.
Zamfara: Bandits kill 1,065 in Bukkuyum since 2015 – Council chairman
