Killings: Read How Ibrahim Madawaki Of Zamfara Village Sacrificed Life For Residents

Governor Yari Of Zamfara State

Insurgency: Zamfara Village, Kucheri In Fear As Ruler Sacrifices Life For Them

Ibrahim Madawaki, the district head of Kucheri village of Tsafe local government in Zamfara state  reportedly sacrificed his life for his residents in the recent armed bandit attack on it on July 6.

Naija News gathered that when the armed bandits arrived with sporadic gunshots in the air, Madawaki was consulting with his people. It was just after the evening prayer.

The Cable reports that they placed members of their gang in three strategic directions – including the major road linking Gusau, capital of the state and Funtua in neighbouring Katsina state.

“After taking charge of the village, they asked for the district head. He came forward. They ordered him to mount one of the motorcycles and follow them but he refused. They insisted but he stood his ground, asking them what he did to deserve such,” a witness said.

“Having realised he would not give in to their demand, they hit him with a big stick. Then he said, ‘Even if you kill me, I beg you not to harm any of my subjects’.”

The attackers rained bullets on Madawaki till he stopped breathing but they they did not touch any of his subjects just like he pleaded with them some 30 minutes to his death.

Naija News gathered that they shot Madawaki seven times – almost all on the head, a family member said “They only left after realising that he was dead. They left the village on dozens of motorcycles shooting their way to the bush besides the village,”

Madawaki, 63, left behind four wives and 34 children. People have been trooping to the palace of the late district head to sympathize with his family members.

Although bandits have been killing people in hundreds, the murder of the district head of Kucheri is a new dimension in the insecurity ravaging the state.

Naija News also learnt that the killing of the ruler has left Kucheri people living in fear, not knowing when or how the next attack will happen.

“Since the killing of our ruler we have been living in fear. We all have sleepless nights always,” a resident said.

“We are helpless. There is no security. It was only after the killing of the district head that some policemen were posted here. And going by the heavy weapons we saw with the bandits and what we saw with the police our fear only increases.”

While mourning of the traditional ruler continues across many villages afflicted, the issue of government’s inability to provide adequate security has raised a deep concern among residents.

Abdulaziz Yari, governor of the state, had since resigned as chief security officer of the state,as a result of the security personnel controlled by the federal government.

Many villages are without police presence. There is heavy military presence in the major towns and military patrols are frequent in some villages. But some villagers suspect the bandits are more sophisticated in terms of arms and planning.

A village head said the bandits always use informants who brief them about the movement of security personnel or happenings in villages. The informants are said to be lured with incentives, including money.

“They use jobless youths as informants. They give them a lot of money. Besides, you never know who is an informant and who is not,” he said.

Shehu Muhammed, police public relations officer (PPRO) in Zamfara was yet to respond as at the filing of this report.