In a recurring tale of distress, Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has voiced his condemnation of the recent abduction of Federal University Gusau students. Zamfara has sadly become synonymous with insecurity; recall the eight young corps members who were kidnapped, yes, still in Zamfara. It’s becoming increasingly evident that the state could be tagged as a “banditry state,” with numerous states of emergency declarations over time.
The distressing incident unfolded as gunmen stormed the Sabon-Gida community in the Bungudu Local Government Area, abducting over 24 university students.
Expressing his anguish over the situation, Governor Lawal decried the attack as ‘cowardly.’ He swiftly ordered security agencies to rescue the remaining kidnapped students. He took to Twitter, saying, “I’m deeply saddened by the recent cowardly attacks by armed bandits at Sabon Gida village where some residents and schoolgirls were kidnapped.”
He added, “We immediately mobilized security agents who succeeded in rescuing some of the victims and are still in hot pursuit of the criminals through land and air. I’ve been in constant engagement with our security heads in the state and other stakeholders to ensure the safe return of all other victims and quickly neutralize the situation, In Shaa Allah.”
In a bid to address the alarming security situation, Governor Lawal convened an emergency Security Council meeting, aiming to secure the release of all abducted individuals and find a lasting solution to the ongoing insecurity crisis, as stated by his spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris.
Furthermore, the governor tasked his deputy, Mani Mummuni, with providing unwavering support to security agencies in restoring normalcy in the affected areas. During the meeting, security chiefs assured the deputy governor of their commitment to restoring peace, confirming the successful rescue of six kidnap victims and the neutralization of numerous kidnappers.
Mani Mallam Mummuni urged security agencies to bolster their presence in volatile regions for enhanced surveillance, assuring the people of Zamfara that security forces are working relentlessly to address the current situation.
Critically, this situation underscores the role of the president in such crises. Ideally, the president should convene meetings with governors and service chiefs to strategize on tackling security challenges. However, it’s lamentable that the reverse appears true, with the president frequently engaged in foreign travels while domestic crises fester.
