Residents protest against communities allegedly aiding bandits in North

On Friday, November 29, 2024, hundreds of residents of Moriki, a town in Zamfara State, northwestern Nigeria, organized a large-scale protest, accusing nearby communities of aiding armed terrorist groups.

The protest, which lasted approximately five hours from 11:50 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., caused a disruption to the weekly Moriki market.

Protesters blocked access roads, preventing villagers from 11 neighbouring communities, including Tudun Moriki, Tudun Sansami, Jaya, Karin Masu, and Kadage, from entering the market.

The demonstrators claimed these communities were assisting terrorists responsible for repeated attacks, killings, and kidnappings in Moriki.

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“We demand that the Nigerian government authorities should stop the accused residents from accessing our local community market because they are also the bandits,” said Danbaba Ya’u, a Moriki resident and protest participant, in a statement to HumAngle.

Ya’u further alleged that the neighboring villagers were acting as informants for the armed groups. “We always record terrorist attacks anytime residents of the ungoverned communities access our town without a halt from the government security operatives. They are infiltrating from their villages occupied by the terror gangs, spying on us, and feeding them with a lot of information about our affairs, movements, and profiles,” he said.

He added that despite paying a ₦30 million protection levy imposed by the armed groups, the Moriki community still couldn’t access farmlands to cultivate crops during the season. “This is why the community blocked all means for the armed groups and the compromised villages from invading the Moriki territory,” Ya’u explained.

The protest involved local vigilantes, government-supported Community Protection Guards, and armed residents. Nigerian military and police forces were present to prevent the demonstration from turning violent.

Bawa Sarkin Tasha, another Moriki resident and a three-time kidnap victim, also shared his anguish. He disclosed that 17 of his relatives remain in the custody of the bandits.

The Zurmi Local Government Area, where Moriki is located, has faced relentless attacks by armed groups, particularly in rural areas where government security presence is minimal. The long-standing violence has forced some communities to cooperate with the terrorists, providing intelligence and other support in exchange for protection.

For the past three weeks, residents accused of aiding the armed groups have been barred from accessing the Moriki market, a critical economic hub for the region. The ongoing standoff has deepened divisions and mistrust between Moriki and its neighboring communities.

(HUMANGLE)