Name those colluding with bandits, emirs tell minister

The Zamfara State Council of Chiefs has called on the Minister of Defence Mansur Dan Ali, as a matter of responsibility and urgency, name the traditional rulers colluding with armed bandits in the state.

This is contained in a communiqué signed by the Emir of Anka and chairman of the state’s council of chiefs Alhaji Attahiru Muhammad Ahmad and read by the Emir of Bungudu Alhaji Hassan Attahiru shortly after an emergency meeting in Gusau yesterday.

The emirs, while describing the allegations against them as reprehensible, said failure to name those involved would make the minister’s statement false and an attempt to tarnish the image of the traditional rulers.

It was gathered that the defence minister, a retired Brigadier General, hails from Birnin Magaji in Zamfara State.

They also described the allegations as an attempt to make them scapegoats for the inability of the military and other security forces to end the scourge of insecurity in the state.

“Over the past years, traditional rulers have cooperated with the state government and security agencies by providing information about location, routes and names of persons involved in armed banditry and cattle rustling. But the military and other security agencies have failed to be on top of the situation,” they said.

However, the emirs appreciated the presidential marching order given to the security agencies to immediately bring an end to the situation once and for all.

“This can only be achieved if the main camps of the bandits are taken over and security personnel stationed there for a considerable period of time, thereby depriving the bandits of territory, mobility and supply routes,” they added.