Zamfara: Residents count losses, as they return home

In Zamfara State, residents of dozens of communities across the fourteen local government areas of the state have returned home after a ceasefire agreement was reached between local vigilante group and armed bandits. In the past eight years, the wave of horrific raids and kidnappings that hit the farming and herding communities had forced 31,402 […]

In Zamfara State, residents of dozens of communities across the fourteen local government areas of the state have returned home after a ceasefire agreement was reached between local vigilante group and armed bandits.

In the past eight years, the wave of horrific raids and kidnappings that hit the farming and herding communities had forced 31,402 to flee their homes and take refuge in relatively safer places across the state and beyond, according to the state emergency management agency.

In Kawaye district of Anka Local Government Area of the state, about 12 villages were deserted owing to series of abductions by armed bandits. However, residents have started returning to their homes.

“I can tell you that in Kawaye district, residents of villages like Dawan, Tamuzge, Sabuwar Tunga, Tungar Daji, Tashar Birai, Tintija are gradually going back to their homes,” Sabe Umaru said.

“The residents abandoned their farms and fled after suspected armed bandits and cattle rustlers slammed heavy levies on them as a precondition for peace. Although they later came back, which led to their working late on their farms this year.

“Most of them had been away for more than five years,” he added.

Checks by Daily Trust on Sunday revealed that residents of Zanuka, Tungar Tirke, Baude, Duhuwa communities, all in Bawar Daji district of Anka Local Government Area, have also gone back home.

In Dansadau district of Maru LGA, residents told our correspondent that about 30 villages that were earlier deserted are now a beehive of activities.

“Residents have returned to villages like Mai getso , Kamgam, Mai rediyo , Saulawa, and many others. The farmers have tilled the lands, though late because the peace deal was consolidated around June this year,” Sani Hussaini said.

Still, in Dansadau district, another resident Aliyu Usman listed communities like Gwauron Dutse, Danmani, Guru, Jesa, Tungar Rakumi, Gobirawar Madada, Farar Doka, Maimarahu, Kwa’e and Fankashi as areas where peace has returned.

Normal activities have also returned in about six villages that were abandoned by residents of Kware district in Shinkafi Local Government Areas.

In March this year, more than 60 persons were killed in Kware in two major attacks by armed bandits and cattle rustlers.

The vice-chairman of Shinkafi LGA, Alhaji Sani Galadima, said about 98 communities in the local government had been sacked by armed bandits and cattle rustlers.

The story is the same in Tsafe Local Government Area as Asaula and Rugumawa I, II and III communities have since returned according to a resident Mustapha Tsafe.

He said, though few residents have managed to go back to see if they could start a new life, they’re still not finding it easy staying there because of the level of damages.

However, the immediate former council chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, told Daily Trust that the cases of desertion were minimal in recent times in the local government, adding that a lot of the displaced persons had gone back to their homes.

In Maradun LGA, activities are gradually returning to communities such as Malamai, Falau, Gwargwawo, Gyabbawa, Kuzi, Rudunu, Mallamawa, Indalumo, Tangyalloli, Ruwan Bado, Sububu, Gidan Dawa, Rugar Dutse and Dale.

The affected residents, Daily Trust Saturday learnt, are still battling to start a new life after years of traumatic experiences in the hands of armed men.