Growing frustration over repeated bandit attacks has erupted into a confrontation in Gwashi community, Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State, where youths on Sunday chased away the state’s Deputy Governor, Mani Malam Mummuni, during a visit to sympathise with victims of insecurity.
The Deputy Governor had travelled to the community to commiserate with affected residents and offer support to families impacted by the attacks. However, the visit took an unexpected turn when angry youths confronted him and members of his entourage, expressing their displeasure over the continuing security challenges in the area.
Footage from the incident shows tensions escalating, with security personnel attached to the Deputy Governor reportedly fleeing the scene and leaving their vehicle behind. The circumstances surrounding the security team’s withdrawal have not been independently established.
The confrontation comes amid repeated attacks on communities in Bukkuyum, where residents face threats while travelling between villages and going to local markets. The insecurity has disrupted everyday activities and heightened concerns over the safety of people moving through the affected areas.
Days before the incident, gunmen reportedly ambushed traders travelling under military escort from Gwashi to Nasarawa Market in Bukkuyum on Saturday, October 10. Reports indicate that four soldiers, three police officers, one Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps officer and 12 civilians were killed, while 19 others sustained injuries.
In a separate incident about a month earlier, six Islamic clerics were reportedly abducted by armed men along the Dakko-Damri feeder road in Bakura Local Government Area while travelling to Talata Mafara. Police spokesperson Yazid Abubakar confirmed the abduction, identifying the victims as imams intercepted by suspected bandits.
The confrontation in Gwashi underscores the pressure facing communities affected by persistent attacks and raises further concerns about public confidence in security efforts. No further details were provided on any immediate response by the Zamfara State Government to Sunday’s incident or on measures planned to address residents’ concerns.
