By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
As the arguments between the Zamfara state Governor Bello Matawalle and media continue over the number of people massacred by terrorists nicknamed “bandits” in eight communities, the state Commissioner of Information, Ibrahim Dosara has said the number of victims are not known.
The Zamfara state Information Commissioner who was a guest of African Independent Television (AIT) breakfast programme Kakaaki on Monday stated clearly that he could not give exact number of persons killed by terrorists in eight communities.
According to him many people ran away from their communities when the incident happened last week hence it is difficult to give accurate account of the dead.
Said he: “Some media practitioners seat in the comfort of their offices and write outright falsehood. I make bold to say that the media reporting several deaths after the terrorists attacked some of our communities may not have the accurate figures of the victims”.
Hon. Dosara has however accused some journalists of inaccurate reporting of what happened especially as it concerns the figure of the dead put out in the media.
Asked why did Governor Bello Muhammad not go the communities in Anka and Bukkuyum Local Government Areas of Zamfara State where over 200 persons were said to have lost their lives, Hon. Dosara argued that the governor stopped at the LGA headquarters of the affected communities because their communities were sacked by the terrorists.
Said he: “Remember that the communities were sacked hence the governor could not access them so the community leaders and Distict Heads had to meet the governor at the LGA headquarters”.
The Information Commissioner also said bandits attacks are not only in Zamfara state but many states in Nigeria, pointing out that some of the banditry activities are financed by political opponents of the government.
According to him: “there are “political bandits” all over, these are people who do not want Governor Bello Muhammad’s government to succeed”.
Asked if the Zamfara government has conducted investigations to identify who those “political bandits” are, he said government is still conducting investigations into their involvement.
On how long it will take to conclude the investigations, Dosara said he does not know but said it may not be to long to unmask the “political bandits” in Zamfara state.
Also, On the Governor’s frequent foreign trips instead of facing his job, like making a trip to Niger Republic last Christmas to watch a wrestling match, Dosara said the federal government sent him there to hold talks on how to block the fleeing bandits.
On the steps to ensure that there are no more attacks like the Anka experience, he said government is doing its best, adding that government is giving relief materials
Asked what security plan to avert future attacks, he said it will not be discussed in the media.
Prompt News reports that some sources estimated the death toll of the Zamfara massacre of last week at about 200 but Governor Bello Muhammad ‘Matawalle’ argued that it was less than that number.
Bandits recently declared Terrorists had attacked Anka and Bukkuyum LGAs of Zamfara state with initial estimate of victims put at 58 according to government sources.
At least four villages were also burnt down in the attacks which started on Wednesday and lasted for about 48 hours just as local vigilantes who tried to repel the attacks were among those killed.
While 36 people are said to have been killed in Bukkuyum local government area, 22 others died in the attacks on Anka.
The casualty figures were confirmed by Emirs in both local government and the State Government.
