Abubakar Malami, SAN, a former minister of justice and attorney-general of the Federation, claimed he had infected the Kebbi State government with political sentiments in sensitive security matters.
The state government has disputed Malami’s claim that 200 people were killed in a recent bandit attack in Zuru Emirate as exaggerated and politically motivated.
However, Yakubu Ahmad, the commissioner for information and culture, and Yahaya Sarki, the governor’s representative for media and publicity, both made separate statements, calling Malami’s claims “mischievous and laced with falsehood” and trying to win cheap political support.
“Malami’s sudden concern for Zuru makes me feel bittersweet to swallow.” He served as the attorney general under (ancient) President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023 in one of Nigeria’s most powerful positions. There was no mention of him visiting or even sending a letter of condolence during that time, as Zuru and other parts of Kebbi experienced repeated bandit attacks.
The Commissioner for Information said, “Now, he appears to be playing politics with security, exaggerating figures for effect.”
Hussaini Aliyu Bena, the head of the Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area, explained the details of the incident and said that bandits had allegedly attacked the area from nearby Zamfara State, rustling cattle.
According to Bena, “The bandits first invaded Seme village, where they stole cattle, and then traveled to Kyebu for the same reason.”
They also snatched food from traders’ stores and broke into them, besides rustling cattle. The bandits shot and killed six people in Seme village, eight more in Yar Kuka village, and burned ten homes as they crossed the border to return to their camp.
In the Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area, 14 people were killed overall. According to information obtained from Tadurga, a neighboring town in the local government area, the attackers also killed 16 more residents while fleeing, rustling cattle, and looting shops.
In the coordinated attack, 30 people died, according to Bena, with an undetermined number of cattle stolen.
Read more about the  : The Kebbi government confirms that bandits killed 30 people in Zuru.
Last week, Malami expressed deep concern about the deteriorating security conditions in Kebbi State’s Argungu and Zuru Emirates.
Malami criticized the government’s inability to safeguard lives and property in a short video that was released in Birnin Kebbi.
I wonder why, let alone the state and local governments, the federal government is not protecting the lives and property of its citizens.
