President Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Saturday expressed outrage at the cutting-edge reports of killings in four villages of Zamfara State by bandits, who have now been particular as terrorists.
This was as the two emirs in the affected communities pleaded for deployment of more troops to the region.
Buhari, in a statement by way of his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, vowed that his regime would “smoke out and destroy these outlaws who have no regard for the sanctity of life.”
The terrorists, who have been reportedly fleeing Zamfara State in their massive numbers following heavy navy onslaught, had descended on Rafin Danya, Barayar Zaki, Rafin Gero and Kurfa villages in the Anka and Bukkuyum local authorities areas of state.
Residents said the terrorists descended on the villages, killing and burning houses after vigilantes engaged them in a gun battle, as they were attempting to flee the country with no fewer than 3,000 cattle.
Residents had put the casualty parent at over 200, but the Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, stated solely 58 men and women were killed.
Shehu’s statement on Saturday, titled, ‘President Buhari condemns the reported massacre of villagers via escaping bandits in Zamfara, vows no letup in navy operations,’ quoted the President as describing the assaults as an act of desperation by way of the terrorists.
He said, “The cutting-edge assaults on harmless people by means of the bandits is an act of desperation with the aid of mass murderers, now beneath relentless strain from our navy forces who are well-equipped to confront these enemies of humanity effectively.
“In preserving with my dedication to tackling the monster of terrorism head-on, let me reassure these besieged communities and different Nigerians that this authorities will not abandon them to their destiny because we are extra than ever determined to get rid of these outlaws.
“These criminals will be records due to the fact we are no longer going to relent in our modern army operations to get rid of these thugs who have been terrorising innocent people.”
Buhari appealed to the affected communities for patience, saying, “we are fiercely decided to smoke out and ruin these outlaws who have no regard for the sanctity of life.”
While extending his sympathy to the survivors and households of these killed, the President stated that the navy and air force have been working collectively to get rid of “these callous criminals” as they gather greater gear to tune down and put off crook gangs that are subjecting harmless Nigerians to the reign of terror, inclusive of the illegal imposition of taxes on the communities below siege.
But the Emir of Anka, Alhaji Attahir Ahmad, and the Emir of Bukkuyun, Alhaji Muhammad Usman, who spoke throughout the visit of Zamfara State Governor, Matawalle, to the attacked communities, appealed for deployment of extra security agents in the region in order to checkmate reoccurrence of terrorists’ attacks in the area.
The Emir of Anka said, “The file we have indicated that 22 humans lost their lives in the attack, while four villages have been burnt down by way of the bandits.
“We are in want of additional security personnel to this area; as such, we are attractive to the Federal Government to reflect onconsideration on the deployment of greater army personnel to the area.”
Similarly speaking, the Emir of Bukkuyum, who gave the quantity of humans killed by the terrorists in his domain as 36, said, “We are attractive to the Federal Government to seem to be into the possibility of deploying extra security personnel to this area.
“The wide variety of the safety personnel we have here is grossly insufficient and cannot efficaciously manage the banditry activities in the place thinking about the influx of armed bandits in the area.”
Casualty determine exaggerated, says Matawalle
Addressing newsmen after his go to to the attacked communities alongside the Commissioner of Police and the General Officer Commanding, the Nigerian Army in the state, Matawalle expressed his condolences to the families whose individuals had been killed through the rampaging terrorists.
He said, “We have been started up on hearing about these killings and we will work tirelessly with the Federal Government for extra serious actions to stop this ugly act.
“The country government will grant crucial aid for the rebuilding of the destroyed villages. The nation government has completed preparations to grant money for the reconstruction of the villages destroyed by means of bandits.”
A statement with the aid of the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Zailani Bappa, also quoted him as decrying “the important slide in factual reportage by means of the media who have variously quoted frightening figures of deaths springing up from the current assaults by using feeing bandits.”
He said, “The right discern stood at fifty eight lives lost. The Emir of Anka gave a list of 22 deaths while the Emir of Bukkuyum gave a list of 36 victims.
“This is in opposition to the a variety of figures ranging from 200 to 500 deaths and eleven villages attacked in the media.
“Both the governor and the two Emirs known as on online media and the social media to usually verify the facts instead of scaring the public for some thing reason.
“It is also obvious that my administration is now not only threatened by bandits in the bush but also political bandits in our cities and villages.
“These are these politicians who manipulate the crisis for political good points and the informants who resource the bandits in their nefarious activities.
“But we shall conquer all through the strength of the Almighty Allah.
“We cannot fold our hands and enable humans to always create panic and paint gorier picture of true happenings in the state. There is no justification for each person to desire us deeper trouble than the place our humans are today.”
We want divine intervention, says Buhari
However, speakme through the Minister of State for Agriculture, Mustapha Shehuri, on Saturday in Kano at the National Prayer Session for Nigeria organised with the aid of the Kano State Government, Buhari said divine intervention was needed to overcome insecurity challenges confronting Nigeria.
He said his regime used to be no longer resting on its oars regarding giving the quintessential support, in phrases of equipment and welfare, to the nation’s security agencies.
“Despite the support, there is a want to are looking for divine intervention for the Almighty to bring an end to the challenges,” the President said.
“No doubt, Nigeria is going through protection challenges and we are doing our pleasant to guide the safety personnel. That does no longer suggest we should no longer seek divine intervention. This prayer session is section of the interventions and I commend the kingdom governor for this,” he added.
PDP, CAN slam President
But the opposition Peoples Democratic Party and the Christian Association of Nigeria knocked Buhari, announcing his regime hadn’t lived up to the promise he made in his New Year message to pay more interest to the security of lives and properties of Nigerians.
In a condolence message by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, to the victims of the Zamfara assaults the PDP stated Buhari solely made promises he by no means meant to keep.
The opposition party said, “Between January and December 2021, about 9, 196 humans have been killed, 3, 857 Nigerians had been kidnapped. Of these, about 70 per cent of the victims are from the North together with the President’s domestic kingdom of Katsina the place the governor has asked residents to buy hands to defend themselves. This is an admission of failure.
“It is unhappy that this is what Nigerians now face daily. We commiserate with the victims. The Buhari authorities lacks the capacity to do anything. There are terror apologists in the APC and the government is aware of them. In 2015, they imported overseas terrorists into the united states for the cause of gaining power.”
Similarly, the Vice-President of CAN, Rev. Joseph Hayab, “Governance has fallen in many states these days in northern Nigeria and the Federal Government wants to do something urgently before the worst will happen.
“Sadly, the body language of Mr President and those surrounding him does now not exhibit they care and expecting them to declare a kingdom of emergency is a wasted enchantment due to the fact nothing about them shows they care.”
We need to discover lasting solution to insecurity – Saraki
A former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, while condemning the Zamfara attacks, said there was a need to locate a lasting solution.
Saraki, in his condolence message, said, “My coronary heart goes out to the households and communities that have skilled the tragic loss and injury of cherished ones, the destruction of their property, and the interruption of their livelihoods.
“It is my prayer that with lasting peace and determined leadership, a location like Anka can one day become one of the easiest income per capita communities in Nigeria. However, for this to happen, we ought to be decisive, thorough, and relentless about securing the lives and property of all Nigerians.” ,,
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