Banditry: Zamfara group cries to President Buhari for help
Concerned Indigenes of Moriki in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the increased insecurity in the area by deploying more troops for the provision of security to the people.
In a letter written to Buhari titled, “Incessant bandits attacks in Moriki town and environs”, on behalf of the group, Salis Muhammad Moriki and made available to Newsmen, the letter stated that in the last one month, Moriki town has come under the control and influence of bandits leading to killings, kidnapping and all sort of terrorism, alleging that no effort from the authorities concerned to curb the problem.
The indigenes noted that more than a hundred houses have been invaded by bandits within a month, saying that they have been carved out from the rest of the state and country at large because the road to Moriki is now impassable as it has been taken over by bandits and their cohorts.
The letter reads, “Sir, we would like to let you know that in the last one month, Moriki town has come under the control and influence of bandits – raging havoc to residents via kidnap, killing and all sort of terrorism with no effort from the authorities concerned to curb this problem. More than a hundred houses have been invaded by bandits within a month. We have been carved out from the rest of the state and country at large because the road to Moriki is now impassable – it has been taken over by bandits and their cohorts.”
The letter added, “From Kaura to Moriki to Shinkafi have become dead zones for motorists and residents. There’s no day bandits would not attack the road, towns or both with no resistance from security personnel. The road has been deserted by motorists and other lawful users.”
It lamented that following its security challenges, it hardly have commercial cars that would board passengers from Kaura to Moriki to Shinkafi for fear of being killed or kidnapped by bandits, stressing that the bandits are having field days in the road because they now operate at any time of the day.
“They operate in the morning, afternoon, evening or in the night – depends on when they wish to. They are now the unofficial custodians of this road,” the letter explained.
The letter further stated that the bandits have taken several days operating along Kaura – Moriki – Shinkafa way, comfortably kidnapping, robbing and killing innocent people at will, pointing out that Moriki town and its environs have now become the bandits’ centre for operations and other illicit activities.
“Within a month, bandits have killed tens of people and kidnapped hundreds along Moriki – Shinkafi road. Some of the flashpoints of bandits’ operation along this road include Gidan ‘yan bita, Kwanar Boko, Hawan Bakwai, Dabin Jaya, Kwanar Jalaf, Junction to Shinkafi – Gidan Gobirawa. These are the most deadly spots,” the letter stated.
It said that the health system of the entire Moriki town has collapsed as the General hospital has been deserted by the people, stressing that relatives of patients evacuated them for security reasons.
It stated that the people of the town are farmers and traders, saying that all their economic activities have been collapsed as they couldn’t attend to their farms for fear of being killed or kidnapped and they couldn’t visit the markets because bandits have taken over the road.
It added that they are now being confined and incarcerated in the town alone, adding that they could not go out of the town as they are also not safe in their houses.
The Concerned Indigenes of Moriki explained that the state government is out of idea as this phenomenon had gone beyond the confines of the states while their Senator, member, House of Representatives, Assembly members, their minister of humanitarian affairs, who happens to be from their local government and other political appointees have all abandoned them.
