Panic has triggered a mass exodus from over 30 communities in Zamfara following the withdrawal of security troops from Lilo village amid fears of renewed bandit attacks.
Residents of more than 30 communities in Zamfara State have reportedly fled their homes following the withdrawal of security troops from Lilo village in Mada district of Gusau Local Government Area, raising fears of renewed bandit attacks. Residents said the troops, stationed in the area for over seven years, were evacuated late at night, triggering panic across communities that had relied on the security presence for protection. “We fled because we are afraid of imminent attacks by bandits. The troops have been our only protection,” a resident of Lilo said.
The resident said the troops, first deployed in June 2019 under former governor Bello Matawalle, had maintained relative peace in the area, with over 60 personnel from different security agencies stationed in the community. He said the soldiers were withdrawn around 10 p.m. using two Armoured Personnel Carriers and a Toyota Hilux, allegedly over fears of ambush during the rainy season. “One of the security officers told me they were pulled out due to fears of ambush, especially as the rainy season begins. The river around the village makes access difficult, and reinforcement is nearly impossible,” he said, adding that over 30 surrounding communities had previously sought refuge in Lilo because of the military presence.
Residents warned that the withdrawal has exposed them to grave danger, noting that several bandit camps surround the area, some located within three kilometres of the village. “If the bandits attack, they will burn people alive and destroy the entire village. That is why we have no choice but to leave,” the resident said. He added that displaced residents were moving toward Gusau despite attempts by authorities to redirect them to nearby communities, while stressing that years of collaboration between locals and security personnel had made residents targets for bandits who view them as enemies.
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