After fleeing Zamfara, IDPs go through hell in Katsina

‘We have been abandoned’ Katsina can’t carter for them – Govt They  ‘ll be returned home soon – Zamfara   Malama Zuwaira Usman could not hold back tears as she spoke about last week’s attack on her village in Zamfara State by bandits.  Zuwaira, who lost a six-year-old son during the attack, said life has […]

• ‘We have been abandoned’
• Katsina can’t carter for them – Govt
• They  ‘ll be returned home soon – Zamfara

 

Malama Zuwaira Usman could not hold back tears as she spoke about last week’s attack on her village in Zamfara State by bandits. 

Zuwaira, who lost a six-year-old son during the attack, said life has been miserable and that the events of that night will forever be on her mind.

With tears rolling down her cheeks, she narrated how bandits stormed her residence at night, shooting sporadically. She said they killed her son before carting away her animals. 

“I ran out of my room but could not find my son.  It was the next day that they found his corpse somewhere around the house”, she said.

Zuwaira is among the over 3500 Internally Displaced Persons from Zamfara State currently taking refuge at Dansabau village in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.

She, alongside other IDPs have found a new home at the Dansabau market, sleeping under wooden stalls and observing nature’s call at nearby bushes.

Zuwaira, who fled the village with only the cloths on her back, is at the mercy of sympathisers who assist her with food and water.

“Life is becoming more difficult by the day, we don’t know the whereabouts of our husbands, our food items were destroyed and now we have nothing”, she said. 

The victims who are mostly women and children from Gangama, Unguwar Dauda, Gangare, Unguwar Duna, Wailari and Unguwar Yabo, all of Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State have found new home at the village market, Daily Trust on Sunday gathered.

Each of the victims has a gory tale to tell on the continued attacks on their villages and the need for concerted efforts to remedy the situation. 

Hauwa’u Abdullahi, who hails from Ganagare village, said the hardship they face due to the situation is better imagined. 

“It is not something that you would wish on anyone not even your enemies. Some of us whose husbands are still alive can stay for over a week without setting our eyes on them. They have returned to fight and save our villages, while we, the women and children have relocated to this market place. 

“We are currently at the mercy of people. I live here with 25 other women, she said, pointing to some huts that ordinarily should not house more than ten persons.

Hauwa’u further stated that the people of Dansabau have been very accommodating.

 Another victim, Saa Haruna, said news reaching them showed that the bandits were planning more attacks, “which is why we are not thinking of returning there anytime soon. 

“I ran for my life when the bandits struck. Enough is enough, government should please come to our aid”. 

Rahama Lalwani fled Zamfara to Katsina with ten children. Speaking with our correspondent, she lamented that her major problem is how to feed her children. 

“The locals have been assisting us with food, clothes and shoes. I pray that they never experience the type of calamity that befell us. 

“In my family alone, four persons were killed during the last attack. I would like to return to my village but the situation is getting worse. This is my fifth day here but some people have been here for about 11 days, with no hope of returning”, she said.

A victim of the attack, who is still nursing bullet wounds, Mohammadu Shukurana Ibrahim, said he was shot twice and that he was lucky to have escaped.  He said the bandits stormed his house and fired at him. 

“It is only God that can compensate us because we have been cheated. Only God can help us, the state government cannot do anything.

“I was shot in the thigh and the bandits thought I was dead. But when I attempted to stand up and leave, I fell down and the bandits shot me again in my hands, leaving me in a pool of blood. My neighbour was killed in the attack, but I was lucky to have escaped with gunshot wound. 

“We are over 3000 people that deserted different villages and converged here in Dansabau, which is closest to us. We learnt that the bandits are reorganising for more attacks, so we don’t know what will happen next. We are grateful to the people of this area for accommodating us”, he said. 

Also speaking to Daily Trust on Sunday, Abdullahi Madawaki from Dauki in Tsafe Local Government Area, who recently reunited with his family said he thought they had been killed.  

“I went to Bedi village in search of them but to no avail. I was very happy when I found them here. My close friend and neighbour, Mati was killed during the attack.  We came to Katsina because there is relative peace here. Security is much better here than our state.  It appears the state government has abandoned us”, he said.

Some residents of Dansabau, who spoke to Daily Trust on Sunday, said they are happy to help.

Malam Samaila Yahuza is a butcher and resident of Dansabau, who is presently accommodating 24 IDPs in his home.

Married with a wife and child, Yahuza said though he is overstretched and does not have the financial muscle to fend for all of them, he is doing the best he can.  

Another resident, Wada Abdullahi, said from the narrations of the IDPs, “we, in this part of the state are now beginning to appreciate what the Katsina State government is doing on security issues.  In the past we had similar attacks but with commitment and support from security agents, the area is now secured.

Aside Dansabau village, several other Katsina local governments bordering the Rugu forest and Zamfara State, are said to be experiencing influx of attack victims. The local governments are;  Jibia, Batsari, Safana, Danmusa, Faskari, Kankara, Sabuwa and Dandume.

When contacted the Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Aminu Waziri, said they were aware of the presence of the IDPs and that he was working with his Zamfara counterpart with a view to returning them to their state.

He said the security implication of their continuous stay is enormous, noting that their welfare is the responsibility of Zamfara State government “and we have reached out to them”.

“If they were our people we would have taken care of them but for now we are liaising with Zamfara SEMA to see that they are evacuated. We are aware of individuals and philanthropists reaching out to them which is good but if we as a government begin to take care of them, that will cause more people to relocate here and the burden will be huge”, he added.     

Also speaking, the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Ibrahim Wakkala Muhammad, said they have started taking back those who fled their communities due to attacks.

Wakkala, who spoke through his Press Secretary, Yusuf Idris, said security operatives have already been deployed to the affected villages.

He added that a committee had been set up under the leadership of the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Abdullahi Muhammad Shinkafi, to look into the matter.