The Speaker of the Zamfara State House Assembly, Alhaji Sanusi
Rikiji, on Friday said no fewer than 50 persons, including members of
Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) were killed in the state on Tuesday.
Rikiji, who revealed this during a condolence visit to Kaura Namoda
emirate, attributed the incidence to CJTF confrontation with bandits in a
community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of the state.
The Speaker, who led the state government delegation on the visit, decried the worsening security situation in the state.
“We were told that the members of Civilian JTF have mobilised people
from Sakajiki community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area and
confronted the bandits in the forest which led to the killing of over 50
persons including members of CJTF,” he said.
Rikiji, who is the Chairman of the State Government Relief and Damage
Assessment Committee, described the act of the CJTF as unprofessional,
saying ”confronting the bandits is not the duty of CJTF members.
“Their duty is to support security personnel to carryout operations
not to lead operations; only security agents have the right to organise
operation to confront bandits,” he added.
He urged traditional rulers in the state to caution CJTF members in
their respective domain to avoid taking laws into theirs hands.
“This is the directive from governor Abdul’aziz Yari that CJTF
members should not confront bandits again; let them cooperate with the
security personnel.
“We have already received the list of the number of the deceased and
other affected victims from the local government Chairman aimed at
assisting them.
“The state government would provide assistance to the families of the
deceased and other victims of the incident very soon,” he added.
Responding, the emir of Kaura Namoda, Alhaji Muhammad Asha, thanked
the state government for the gesture and assured of his palace’s
continued support and cooperation with government to address the
problem.
He said the emirate had embarked on special prayers to seek Allah’s intervention over the security challenges in the state.
“We have already mobilised our Imams of Jumu’at Mosque and Ulamas to
offer special prayers in this regard during Jumu’at prayers,” the emir
said.
The Chairman of the council, Alhaji Lawal Abdullahi, thanked the state government for the assistance to the victims.
Abdullahi assured of the council’s continued support to the state and
federal government in fighting insecurity in the area and the state.