Zamfara massacre: Residents flee Unguwar Galadim

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI & Salisu Maradun Following the massacre of more than 200 residents of Unguwar Galadima, a community in Zamfara State, by Fulani herdsmen last Sunday, the people are now fleeing the town in droves, even as the Inspector General has ordered deployment of special forces to the state. Many of the residents who survived the attack are leaving for fear of being attacked again. A resident, Malam Danladi Musa, while narrating his ordeal, said he had to leave the area because out of nine members of his family, only two of them escaped the deadly attack. He said: “When the tragedy happened, I could not find any of my family members until after about five hours when one of my neighbors, who also survived, Malam Idris, told me that he saw my brothers lying in a hole in the outskirts of the town where they hid themselves. “I became more scared when I went back to the town to call my brothers, as I could not believe it was the same Unguwar Galadima I knew before. It was terrible. I was terrified when I set my eyes on the town. There were still billows of smoke everywhere, and the town was completely deserted.” Another survivor of the massacre, Alhaji Sani Tela, said his fear was how to go to the town to evacuate the remaining members of his family who were trapped there. Alhaji Sani stated that two days before the attack, he had a premonition that something bad was going to happen in the area which would be destructive. He said: “I quickly called one of my sisters who lives in Koli village, which is also about 60 kilometers away from the scene of the incident, Malama Halima, to come and take my ten goats and seven sheep and keep them under her care.” Meanwhile, more corpses were being buried under the leadership of the Chief Imam of the area, Malam Musa Muhammad. One of the funeral prayer attendants, who gave his name as Saidu Lili, told Vanguard that he was looking into the possibility of leaving the area, but for the burial. According to him, he was instructed by the Chief Imam, who was also his in-law, to remain behind until all the corpses were buried. “There is no way we can continue to live here,” added one Tsalha Isah, who was weeping over the death of his father. He explained that they were still scared, because since the governor and his entourage left, no single policeman was seen around the area. DSP Lawal Abdullahi, the state command’s spokesperson, however, said the command had done everything to ensure peace in the area, adding that more policemen have already been stationed there to ensure people are protected. IG orders deployment of special forces Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has ordered the immediate and massive deployment of Special Forces comprising ten 10 units of Police Mobile Force, PMF, three units of conventional policemen and a unit of counter-terrorism personnel to the state. Also deployed are Border Patrol Teams and Force Intelligence personnel drawn from various squadrons and commands to reinforce the operation of the existing Police personnel in the affected areas. A statement from Force Headquarters, Abuja, noted: “In addition, the Air Wing of the Nigeria Police, we will commence aerial patrol and surveillance in order to efficiently and effectively monitor the situation and communicate with special units on ground.” These directives, according to the statement, were issued by the IGP in response to the security assessment report of the affected areas. “Furthermore, the IG ordered extensive covert operations from the Force Intelligence Bureau while the Border Patrol Teams are to maintain adequate surveillance of all border areas around Zamfara to forestall further infiltration and escape of Marauders through the borders” it added. While commiserating with the families of the victims of the attacks, the IGP urged citizens to cooperate with the force in its effort at restoring peace and security in the area and advised them to be law-abiding as they go about their lawful businesses.