Zamfara Emir: How Bandits Abducted 100 People, Kill 10 In One Day

The Emir of Anka in Zamfara state, Attahiru Ahmad, has said more than 100 miners operating between Anka and Maru LGAs in the state were abducted by bandits on March 2.

He stated this on Tuesday when the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lucky Irabor, led service chiefs on an assessment visit to the state.

Ahmad, chairman of the state council of chiefs, stated that the abduction took place when the state was focused on the rescue of the 279 students abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe.

According to the traditional ruler, the bandits killed 10 persons during an invasion of a mining site in Zamfara.

He said: “The bandits have been attacking those involved in artisanal mining and carting away their money and property.

“There is a disconnect between miners and bandits in the state, so we were surprised when the declaration of ‘no fly zone’ was recently slammed on our state over suspected arms supply and illegal mining, when the state does not even have an airport.

“We know that there are states with more security challenges than Zamfara, and we expected that if such order would be issued, it should also cover such states.

“Our artisanal miners, who are licenced, have been very helpful to the state’s economic growth and they have played significant roles in ameliorating the hardship faced by IDPs in the state by supporting them.”