Buhari Condemns Zamfara Killings

President Muhammadu Buhari has described as unfortunate the killings of innocent Nigerians in Birnin Magaji and Magami communities in Tsafe and Maradun local government areas of Zamfara, following attacks by suspected bandits.

The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, made the President reaction to killings known in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

The President revealed that an operation involving the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Police, Department of State Services and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps is been conceived to ensure peace and stability to affected areas.

“These horrendous acts of violence are crimes against humanity. This violence must stop,” he said.

While expressing his deepest condolences to the families of those killed in the attacks, the government and people of Zamfara, the President also wished those injured a speedy recovery.

The President said that he has directed the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Abubakar Sadiq, to go on an assessment tour to Zamfara and Sokoto States on Christmas and Boxing days.

He reassured residents of states plagued by bandits — Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Niger and Taraba, that their safety was an enduring commitment of his administration and he would continue to ensure that security agencies worked round the clock to protect local populations.

He said the security personnel, which were part of measures, among others, to respond to the security challenges in the North Central and North West, would be intensified to flush out the bandits from the affected areas.

The President commended Nigerians “for the support to our security agencies who have continued to demonstrate dedication, commitment and bravery even in very difficult and complex operations’’.

The Police Command in Zamfara had on Sunday confirmed that 17 people were killed in an attack on Magami village of Faru District in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara.