Banditry Hits Hard: Zamfara Faces Economic Blow with 11 Markets Closed

In a move met with resistance from Zamfara State residents, the government’s decision to indefinitely shut down 11 cattle markets due to escalating banditry has sparked discontent. State Commissioner for Information, Munnir Haidara, defended the closures, citing security reports indicating that bandits utilized these markets to trade rustled cattle.

The affected markets, including Tsafe, Bilbis, Jangebe, Wuya, Magamin Diddi, Galadi, Mada, Sabon Birnin Danali, Kokiya, Chigama, and Nasarawar Godel, are dispersed across various local government areas. Haidara stressed the necessity of these closures to disrupt the bandits’ channels for selling stolen livestock. The state government has directed security agents to enforce compliance, with stringent measures against any violators.

This decision echoes a similar move by former Governor Muhammad Bello Matawalle, who closed down several markets for comparable reasons. However, dissenting voices among residents argue that historical attempts employing such strategies failed to yield positive outcomes. Traders, like Alhaji Aminu Musa, criticize the decision as baseless and call for a more effective approach to ending banditry.

Expressing concern over the economic impact, residents like Salihu Datti Tsafe contend that closing markets exacerbates the plight of villagers already grappling with serious economic hardships. They urge the government to reconsider its decision, emphasizing the need for heightened security measures in banditry-prone areas instead. The closures, according to these residents, not only impede their ability to conduct business but also leave them vulnerable, devoid of financial resources in case of bandit abductions. A plea is made for a strategic reassessment, as residents argue that the current approach may not effectively address the prevailing menace of banditry in Zamfara state.