Banditry and kidnapping activities have claimed the lives of about 1,065 residents of Bukkuyum Local Government Area of the Zamfars State, North Western Nigeria.
Residents also paid about N2.9 billion as ransom and illegal levies to armed bandits from 2015 to date across the 17 districts of the local government, which have come under sustained attacks by bandits, resulting in mass killings, abductions and economic devastation.
This was disclosed by the chairman of Bukkuyum Local Government Area, Hon Abubakar Umar Faru in an interview with the media, saying “from the records compiled from all the 17 districts, 1,065 residents were killed, over 2.9 billion was paid as ransom and forced levies, while armed bandits rustled thousands of livestock,” he said.
According to him, bandits rustled 84,928 cows, 52,423 goats and 187 camels, leaving many households without means of livelihood.
Faru identified Gando Forest as a major hideout for bandits, calling on the Federal Government to launch decisive military operations to dismantle criminal camps operating in the area.
He further disclosed that over 200 persons, including women and children, have been abducted from Bukkuyum communities and remain in captivity.
The council chairman appealed to the Federal Government to intensify security efforts, noting that while the Zamfara State Government and local authorities were doing their best, they lacked direct control over federal security agencies.
He, however, commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing Christopher Musa as Minister of Defence, expressing optimism that the appointment would help strengthen the fight against banditry in Zamfara Statex
