Zamfara LG Chairman Weeps at Burial of Security Operatives, Civilians Killed by Bandits

Tears flowed in Jangebe as seven victims of bandit attack received emotional community farewell.

Zamfara official blamed ignored warnings and urged stronger security to protect rural communities.

Emotions ran high in Jangebe town, Zamfara State, as the Chairman of Talata Mafara Local Government Area, Hon. Yahaya Yari, broke down in tears during the funeral of seven victims killed in a recent bandit attack.

The slain individuals included five members of the Community Protection Guard (CPG) and two civilians, all of whom lost their lives during a coordinated assault by armed bandits on Friday, July 18.

According to local sources, the attackers stormed Jangebe in broad daylight, leaving destruction in their wake and claiming innocent lives. The community is still reeling from the trauma of the violent invasion, which residents say could have been avoided.

Speaking at the burial, Hon. Yahaya Yari expressed deep sorrow and frustration over the tragedy. He lamented that prior warnings about the impending attack had allegedly been shared with security operatives, but no preventive measures were taken.

“We are heartbroken. These were our brothers, security volunteers, and innocent civilians who should not have died if the right actions were taken in time,” the visibly distraught chairman said.

The Community Protection Guard, a local vigilante initiative launched to assist overstretched security forces in rural Zamfara, has faced increasing casualties in recent months as banditry resurges in parts of the North-West.

The Talata Mafara LG boss called for immediate reinforcement of security presence in vulnerable communities and urged the state and federal governments to prioritize the protection of lives in Zamfara.

Residents, meanwhile, have decried the worsening insecurity across the region, demanding a comprehensive review of the state’s security architecture.