2The capital of Zamfara State, Shinkafi, the former head of the Committee urged the government to take legal action against crimes committed by bandits in the state, labeling the killings as "brutal and against all moral values," while blaming the Federal Government for not fulfilling its constitutional responsibility to safeguard lives and property.
He described how the victims taken from Banga village in February were killed by the robbers, even though some of their family members paid the ransom.
"Since February, these innocent individuals have been taken hostage, with 53 people kidnapped, comprising both men and women. The gang leader demanded a ransom of N1 million for each person, and only 18 family members managed to pay," he said.
Shinkafi mentioned that the testimonies of the freed victims exposed terrifying actions carried out by the abductors while they were held captive.
One of the individuals freed by the robbers informed the village that the others were mercilessly murdered.
"They were not killed by the bandits one by one; you take your relative and kill him yourself. Two people who refused to kill their relatives were shot dead immediately," he said.
Shinkafi recounted the terrifying tale of three women who delivered their babies while held captive, including one instance where a newborn was brutally killed.
Three women gave birth while held captive, and one of them, after delivering her child, found her baby crying. The bandits complained that the infant's cries were disturbing them. They took the baby, grabbed its legs, and smashed its head against a rock. The child's skull shattered, and the mother suffered a severe heart attack, passing away within thirty minutes.
Shinkafi also expressed significant worries about reported efforts by federal officials to mediate a truce with the infamous bandit leader, Bello Turji.
He stated that the attempts by the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to capture Turji were stopped following orders from senior officials.
"The civilian JTF were about to arrest Turji in a physical confrontation, and the government ordered the governor to halt the conflict, stating that Turji is prepared for reconciliation with the authorities," Shinkafi said.
He also disclosed the formation of a committee headed by a senator from Bauchi State, which is said to have conducted peace talks with Turji at his concealed location.
A committee led by Senator Buba from Bauchi state visited Shinkafi, and he met our Emir. I called the Emir, and he confirmed that this committee came to our Emirate and aimed to reconcile with Turji; they went to meet Turji at his hiding place.
"After that visit, Turji shared two videos, part 1 and part 2, encouraging other armed gang groups to adopt peace. How can they achieve peace, what are the methods, what are the approaches?" he asked.
Shinkafi, therefore, urged the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, to stand firm against any attempts to engage with kidnappers, emphasizing that past peace initiatives had failed.
We formally urge the governor, regardless of any pressure, to avoid engaging in any peace talks with outlaws; they are unreliable, untrustworthy, traitors, and sycophants; there is no necessity for it.
The former administration led by Abdulaziz Yari engaged in talks with criminals, and Bello Matawalle also initiated peace discussions with these armed groups, yet no success has been achieved.
He urged the federal government to utilize full security personnel using a proactive strategy to combat militants within the state.
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