Amnesty raises alarm as bandits lay siege to dozens of Zamfara villages

By Ade Ade

Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to intensify efforts to end the persistent attacks by armed bandits on communities in Dansadau District of Zamfara State, warning that residents have been left at the mercy of criminal gangs.

The human rights organisation said dozens of villages in the district had been under siege by bandits for the past 10 days, with residents reportedly unable to enter or leave their communities.

Amnesty International disclosed that the latest attack occurred on Sunday when bandits invaded Yar Gada village, where they allegedly set vehicles ablaze as residents fled in different directions to escape the assault.

The organisation expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in the area, describing the crisis as a largely forgotten conflict that has continued to devastate rural communities in Zamfara State.

It noted that residents had endured years of violence, killings, abductions and threats from armed groups, while efforts by the authorities to restore lasting peace had failed to provide adequate protection.

According to the organisation, travelling along the Magami-Dansadau Road has, for years, required military escort, underscoring the persistent insecurity confronting residents and other road users.

Amnesty International also reported that residents of some affected communities claimed they had received advance telephone warnings of impending attacks from the bandits.

The residents further alleged that the armed groups had demanded huge sums of money from villagers, threatening to kill or abduct those who failed to comply with their demands.

The organisation warned that the continued attacks had subjected residents to severe hardship and fear, with many forced to flee their homes or remain trapped in their communities.

It said the failure of the authorities to adequately protect the affected populations had left villagers vulnerable to armed groups that had killed hundreds of people in Zamfara State over the past decade.

Amnesty International expressed concern that, despite repeated assurances by the Nigerian authorities that they were addressing the security crisis, the mounting death toll and continued attacks suggested that the response had not delivered the desired results.

The organisation urged the government to demonstrate greater commitment to protecting lives and property by strengthening security operations, preventing further attacks and ensuring that those responsible for the killings, abductions and destruction of property were brought to justice.

It also stressed the need for urgent and sustained action to restore security in Dansadau District and other affected communities, allowing displaced residents to return home and rural populations to resume their normal activities without fear of violence.