In a direct response to a recent surge in violence, federal lawmaker Abdulmalik Zubairu (APC-Zamfara) has visited the traumatized community of Maru in Zamfara State to offer condolences and assess the damage following a brutal bandit attack. The assault, which underscores the persistent security crisis in Nigeria’s northwest, resulted in significant loss of life and the abduction of numerous residents, leaving the community in a state of mourning and fear.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rep. Zubairu, who represents the Bungudu/Maru Federal Constituency, traveled to Maru town where he met with grieving families. In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Aminu Lawal, the lawmaker expressed profound sorrow over the incident, describing it as “very unfortunate” and stating he was “heavy-hearted by the sad development.”
Zubairu’s comments highlighted the chronic nature of the insecurity plaguing his constituency. “Only God knows the extent of my concern to the plight of the people I am representing,” he said, “particularly the devastating insecurity that has continued to subject the people to monumental hardships.” This visit is a common, yet critically important, ritual for Nigerian officials in regions afflicted by banditry and terrorism, serving both as a gesture of solidarity and a public acknowledgment of the government’s awareness of the crisis.
Beyond condolences, the lawmaker made commitments to action, vowing to “continue to do everything humanly possible to give my constituents the best in terms of the security of their lives and properties.” He also led special prayers for the restoration of peace and the safe return of those abducted, a spiritual recourse that holds deep significance for the predominantly Muslim community. Furthermore, he urged residents to collaborate with security agencies, a plea that points to the complex challenges of intelligence gathering and community trust in counter-insurgency operations.
Context and Deeper Implications: Attacks like the one in Maru are not isolated events but part of a wider pattern of criminality and instability in Zamfara and neighboring states. Bandit groups, often motivated by ransom kidnapping, cattle rustling, and control of illegal mining territories, have rendered vast rural areas ungovernable. The lawmaker’s visit, while symbolically necessary, also brings into sharp focus the limitations of federal and state responses. Effective solutions require not just reactive condolence visits but sustained investments in community policing, economic alternatives for at-risk youth, and enhanced intelligence-driven military operations.
In a related development during the same visit, Rep. Zubairu also attended the funeral prayer for the late District Head of Karakkai, Alhaji Muhammad Bello-Yusuf. He eulogized the traditional ruler as a pillar of stability, noting his dedication to his subjects even amidst severe security threats. “In spite of the security tension that continues to pose threats in our communities, the late district head remained with his subjects,” Zubairu stated, framing the loss as a significant blow to local governance and traditional institutions in Bungudu Local Government Area and Zamfara State at large.
The convergence of these two events—condoling victims of violent crime and mourning a respected traditional leader—paints a poignant picture of a region grappling with multifaceted crises. The erosion of both human life and stabilizing societal structures like traditional leadership creates a compounding effect on community resilience. The lawmaker concluded his visit by extending condolences to the Emir of Bungudu, Alhaji Hassan Attahiru, and the entire emirate, praying for divine mercy for the deceased.
Source: NAN (Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani)
