The Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, has said that no fewer than 2,300 residents have been killed and 25,000 cattle rustled during clashes in the state since 2011.
Yari, who is the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), made this known in a security town hall meeting that held in the state capital, Gusau, on Monday.
He noted that the clashes have caused agricultural activities to grind to a halt in the state, adding that he has been battling insecurity since he was sworn in as governor in 2011.
Other dignitaries at the meeting include: Minister of Defence, Brig.-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd); Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; and Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu.
Yari attributed the spate of killings to the handiwork of criminals.
He said, “About 2,300 people have died in the state since 2011. Agriculture has suffered setback as a result of this security problem.
“In Zamfara, we are all Muslims, I don’t expect a Muslim to kill another [Muslim]. We should know that we are dealing with criminals.
“In 2014, we had only 24 soldiers in the whole of Zamfara state.”
Recall that Yari had earlier in the year said he had dropped his responsibility as Chief Security Officer of the state over his lack of control over security agencies in the state.
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However, Mohammed said that killings in the state has reduced “drastically”.
“Let me say straight away that the killings, resulting from farmers-herders clashes, cattle rustling, trans-border crimes and banditry, among others, have fallen drastically.
“Unfortunately, this has not received the kind of media coverage that was given to the killings.
“I appeal to the media to correct this. I have no doubt that the good people of Zamfara can testify to the drastic reduction in the activities of cattle rustlers and other bandits in the state since the federal government assembled a 1000-strong military force, comprising the army, air force, police and the civil defence, to launch fierce attacks on the bandits terrorising the villages and towns of Zamfara state.
“The situation will continue to improve until the violence has stopped.”