The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mahmud Dantawasa, made the call while addressing journalists in Gusau on Monday, saying the government is deeply worried over the recent surge in attacks despite efforts by both the state and federal governments to contain banditry and kidnapping.
Dantawasa said the resurgence of attacks has caused serious hardship for families, farmers, traders and other residents, especially those in rural areas whose daily activities have been disrupted.
According to him, communities recently affected include Bindin and Falale in Maru Local Government Area; Damba and Wanke in Gusau LGA; Bagega in Anka LGA; and Moriki in Zurmi LGA, among other communities.
“These incidents have heightened public concern and affected the sense of safety among residents,” the commissioner said.
He noted that the impact of banditry goes beyond loss of lives, as it has also disrupted farming, trade, education, transportation and other socio-economic activities in the state.
Dantawasa said the Zamfara Government is working closely with the Federal Government to strengthen security operations, disclosing that four security battalions have been allocated to Bakura, Shinkafi, Kaura Namoda and Anka Local Government Areas.
“This allocation is an important component of the joint efforts of the federal government and the Zamfara Government to strengthen security coverage and improve the protection of lives and property,” he said.
“The allocation of the battalions to these strategic locations is intended to enhance security arrangements and support efforts to address criminal activities affecting communities across the state.”
The commissioner appreciated the Federal Government for its collaboration and stressed the need for sustained cooperation between the two tiers of government in tackling the security challenges.
He explained that Zamfara, being an agrarian state, depends heavily on agriculture and rural commerce, and insecurity has continued to cripple agricultural production and household incomes.
“As an agrarian state, Zamfara depends significantly on agriculture and rural commerce. When farmers cannot access their farmlands safely, agricultural production and household incomes suffer. Similarly, insecurity disrupts the movement of goods and services and places additional hardship on families,” he said.
Dantawasa condemned the attacks on innocent citizens, describing them as unacceptable and a threat to peace, unity and development of the state.
He assured that the state government is engaging relevant security agencies to strengthen response to emerging threats and improve protection for vulnerable communities.
To boost security operations, he said the state government has provided 25 armoured vehicles and 150 Toyota Hilux vehicles to security agencies operating in the state.
The commissioner called for sustained synergy in intelligence sharing, operational coordination and logistical support for security agencies.
He also disclosed that preparations are underway for dry-season security operations to sustain the fight against banditry and ensure farmers can access their farmlands safely as agricultural activities peak during the period.
Dantawasa further announced that the government is training 1,000 forest guards for deployment across all local government areas to strengthen security in forested and rural communities, adding that they would operate under proper supervision and in coordination with authorised security agencies.
He urged those involved in banditry to abandon criminal activities and surrender through lawful channels, noting that surrender does not mean automatic immunity from prosecution.
The commissioner also appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, youth groups and other stakeholders to promote peaceful coexistence and support security agencies with credible information.
He urged residents to report suspicious movements to appropriate authorities and avoid spreading rumours, unverified reports and inflammatory messages capable of causing panic.
Dantawasa called on residents to remain calm, vigilant and united while continuing to pray for peace in Zamfara and the country at large, assuring that more efforts are being made by all security stakeholders to address the situation.
