Bandits have reportedly abducted over 40 residents across communities in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State during a series of coordinated attacks over the past two weeks.
Details of the Attacks
A resident of Maru town, Alhaji Umar Abdullahi, disclosed to newsmen that the bandits have been conducting house-to-house raids, abducting individuals from their homes, including prominent community members.
“Just last week, the bandits stormed our town and conducted house-to-house searches, starting from the Emir’s palace area, and kidnapped seven persons,” Abdullahi said.
He attributed the rise in attacks to the activities of informants collaborating with the bandits.
“Our major challenge is the bandits’ informants, as most of the kidnapped victims are prominent persons in the area,” he noted.
Bandits’ Camps Behind Bakalori Dam
Abdullahi further revealed that the bandits are operating from camps located behind Bakalori Dam in the Maradun Local Government Area, an area now witnessing an influx of bandits relocating from other parts of the state.
“We are in serious trouble because many bandits are relocating to the Maradun camp. There is an urgent need for authorities to dislodge them for peace to thrive,” he added.
Appeal for Government Intervention
Residents of Maru have called on the federal and Zamfara State governments to take immediate action by deploying more security forces to the area.
Another resident, Usman Abubakar, described Maru Local Government Area as a “colony of banditry,” where criminals operate with impunity.
“When the banditry began more than a decade ago, Dansadau, a district of Maru Local Government, was the epicenter. But now, the bandits have spread to all parts of the State, especially Maru Local Government Area,” Abubakar said.
Recent Killings
The situation in Maru LGA has been dire for months. Earlier this year, several police officers, including a Divisional Police Officer (DPO), were killed in an attack on Maru town.
Efforts to obtain a reaction from the State Police Command on the current spate of abductions were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
The ongoing banditry underscores the urgent need for enhanced security measures to protect residents and restore peace in Zamfara State.
