Residents of Tashar Mayanchi and neighbouring communities in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State have raised the alarm over escalating bandit attacks, warning that the criminals may be plotting to cut off the Zamfara-Sokoto highway after forcing thousands of people to flee the area.
Residents, who spoke to Daily Trust on condition of anonymity for fear of attack, said repeated attacks have emptied Tashar Mayanchi and more than 10 surrounding villages, leaving only a few residents behind.
According to them, bandits attacked Tashar Mayanchi for four consecutive days, abducting many people.
‘We have more than 40 people currently in bandits’ captivity. The attacks have become relentless, and many families have fled the community,’ one resident said.
He alleged that over 10 villages in Mayanchi District had already been deserted, adding that Tashar Mayanchi, which once had a population of more than 20,000, now has fewer than 30 residents.
The resident further claimed that the attackers were demanding compensation for an AK-47 rifle allegedly recovered by local vigilantes after they killed a notorious bandit leader, Mai Dada, more than a year ago.
‘The vigilantes killed Mai Dada and recovered his rifle. Now the bandits are demanding compensation for the weapon,’ he alleged.
He also said many killings and abductions, especially on farmlands, go unreported because of the remoteness of the communities and fear among residents.
Another resident, Malam Mas’ud Musa Rini of Bakura Local Government Area, warned that Bakura and Talata Mafara could be cut off from the rest of Zamfara if bandits take control of the Tashar Mayanchi axis.
‘If they displace the remaining residents of Tashar Mayanchi, travellers may have to pass through Sokoto State to reach Gusau,’ he said.
Rini appealed to Governor Dauda Lawal to deploy more security personnel to the affected communities.
Efforts to obtain comments from Maru LGA Chairman Bello Jabaka were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls and a text message.
Similarly, the spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, did not respond to calls seeking a reaction as of the time of filing this report.