Speaker of the Zamfara State House Assembly, Sanusi Rikiji, on Friday said no fewer than 50 persons, including members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, were killed in Zamfara on Tuesday.
Rikiji, who revealed this during a condolence visit to Kaura Namoda Emirate, attributed the incidence to CJTF confrontation with bandits in a community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of the state.
The Speaker, who led the state government delegation on the visit, decried the worsening security situation in the state.
“We were told that the members of Civilian JTF had mobilised people from Sakajiki community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area and confronted the bandits in the forest, which led to the killing of over 50 persons, including members of CJTF,” he said.
Rikiji, who is the Chairman of the State Government Relief and Damage Assessment Committee, described the act of the CJTF as “unprofessional,” saying, “confronting the bandits is not the duty of CJTF members.”
“Their duty is to support security personnel to carry out operations, not to lead operations. Only security agents have the right to organise operation to confront bandits,” he added.
He urged traditional rulers in the state to caution CJTF members in their respective domains to avoid taking laws into theirs hands.
“This is the directive from Governor Abdul’aziz Yari that CJTF members should not confront bandits again; let them cooperate with the security personnel.
“We have already received the list of the number of the deceased and other affected victims from the local government chairman, with the aim to assist them.
“The state government would provide assistance to the families of the deceased and other victims of the incident very soon,” he added.
Responding, the Emir of Kaura Namoda, Muhammad Asha, thanked the state government for the gesture and assured of his palace’s continued support and cooperation with government to address the problem.
The chairman of the council, Lawal Abdullahi, thanked the state government for the assistance to the victims.
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