Zamfara State, once a thriving agricultural hub which earned it the slogan 'farming is our pride', where the state capital Gusau was an important commercial centre with a heterogeneous population of people from all over Nigeria, has in recent times been ravaged by banditry and insecurity which have turned it into a theatre of violence.
Over 80 per cent of the population of Zamfara State historically engages in agriculture which provides foodstuffs, raw materials and employment opportunities for the youths. However, banditry and insecurity have forced farmers to abandon their fields thereby reducing the rate of employment and productivity in the state.
According to the World Bank, the state is one of the poorest in Nigeria with a poverty rate of over 60 per cent. Additionally, the state's natural resources, including gold, iron ore, lead and chromate, have also become a curse rather than a blessing due to the effects of illegal mining activities. These illicit operations are often carried out by unlicensed individuals and companies, which prioritise maximising profits at the detriment of the health of the people as well as the environment.
The health hazards caused by these activities are life threatening. Residents are exposed to many toxic substances like lead, mercury, and arsenic, which can cause severe health issues. For instance, lead poisoning from illegal gold mining claimed many lives in 2010. According to the National Library of Medicine, over 735 children were reported dead and thousands sickened by the neurotoxin and the source was traced to the artisanal gold mining and processing going on in the villages in the state.
Additionally, the International Organisation of Migration's Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) reports that Zamfara with 179,065 IDPs or 16 per cent of the total IDP population in the North-Central and North-West, ranks 4th in the whole of Nigeria.
Indeed, the recent award received by Governor Dauda Lawal for project innovation is a commendable effort, but I must say that it barely scratches the surface of the state's deep-seated issues. Issues that are internally and externally causing the state to bleed, and are spreading fast like cancer to neighbouring states like Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, and the rest.
The recent heartbreaking kidnapping and killing of a prominent royal father, the Sarkin Gobir, was like pouring a bucket full of freezing water upon us all; sending shivers down our spines, making us realise that no one is truly safe in this country, royal or common man.
One of the core functions of government is the protection of lives and properties of the citizens. However, today as we walk on the streets we keep looking over our shoulders, pulling our bags tighter under our armpits, some even muttering silent prayers for safety and we dare not heave a sigh of relief untill we have reached our destination and bolted our locks. Sadly, the risk does not seem to end there as there are many cases of people being kidnapped inside their very own homes.
The hardship in the country is also not helping. It is rather contributing to this problem as it is breeding more criminal minds and activities. In the struggle to survive the current Nigerian economy, many are giving up on their morals, values and norms.
We are well aware that indeed we are neck deep in trouble in this country. Something has to be done before we become a lost case entirely. Therefore, in order to tackle this issue, we first need to understand that tackling insecurity is not solely the responsibility of the federal government. State governments, grassroots areas as well as citizens themselves can also contribute beyond lamenting alone.
We also need to understand that hope alone is not a strategy to tackle insecurity in Zamfara State and environs and neither is the deployment of soldiers alone going to solve the issue. It must be complemented with dialogue and mediation.
Reconciliation is vital in reaching the roots of the problem as well as in healing the wounds of the past and building trust among communities. Let the people know that you understand their pain and the hardships they are going through. Explain to them in a language that they will understand not just with their heads but with their hearts and souls as well. Let them know that picking up weapons and wreaking havoc in the society is not the solution but which will only make things worse for everyone.
The state government, village heads, and community leaders should also lead in reconciliation effort to address the longstanding conflicts between farmers and herders in the state, which conflict initiated and escalated into the entire issue of banditry in the region. The key issues to be addressed in this reconciliation are, land ownership and usage disputes, cattle encroachment, cultural and ethnic differences (as farmers are mostly Hausa and herders Fulani), and also past violent clashes and mistrust.
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The reconciliation process should aim at healing the wounds of the past, building trust, and resolving these underlying issues. It should also acknowledge the pain and hardships faced by both farmers and herders, and explain the benefits of peaceful coexistence in a language that resonates with their hearts and souls. It is also essential to convey that resorting to violence and weapons will only exacerbate the situation, causing harm to everyone not only on the community or state but the country at large.
Let us bring back the lost glory of Zamfara State; together it is achievable.
Aisha Dahuwa is a mass communication student at Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja
