Dansadau, one of the 17 emirate councils in Zamfara and said to be the largest ward in Maru LGA, has suffered years of bandit attacks, displacement and neglect, with communities like Dandallah, Tudun Gabas and Unguwar Majidadi witnessing killings and farming restrictions.
Former Senator representing Zamfara Central, Senator Sa'idu Dansadau, has decried the situation, describing the bandits' threat to burn vehicles plying the Dansadau road as a sign of disrespect to government and evidence that the government does not care about the people it seeks votes from.
In his words: "The threat by bandits to burn vehicles on the Dansadau road shows how much they disregard the government, and the government itself has shown it does not care about the people it claims to want to vote for them."
He lamented that what is happening in Dansadau is pathetic.
"Honestly, what is happening in Dansadau area is saddening," he said.
According to residents, the situation has worsened in recent days following reports of killings in Bindin, where bandits allegedly killed innocent citizens trying to earn a living.
"Everyone knows what happened in Bindin a few days ago where bandits killed innocent people struggling to fend for themselves," a source said.
Locals said the Dansadau road has been completely shut, to the extent that even soldiers cannot ply the route without heavy protection, while access to Magami now requires a strong military escort.
"The Dansadau road is closed, even soldiers cannot pass through that road except civilians with escort. Now they have extended it to Magami, you can only go in or come out with a good escort," residents lamented.
"What a pity. May Almighty God bring relief to the poor from where they least expect."
The continued blockade has left residents stranded, with food, medicine and other essential commodities running low, while businesses are paralysed and families struggle to survive.
Residents have also questioned the silence of the Zamfara State Government over reports of security personnel allegedly killed in Bindin and Gwashi, demanding transparency and urgent intervention to restore normalcy.
They called on authorities to clarify the true security situation, reopen the road for safe passage, and strengthen security presence to protect civilians, motorists and traders who depend on the route for their livelihood.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to get official reaction from the state government and security agencies were unsuccessful.
How long will the people of Dansadau remain cut off from essential supplies while waiting for effective security intervention?
