Residents Stage Protest Against Insecurity In Anka, Burn Down IDP Camps

Residents in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara state in Nigeria’s northwest staged a massive protest earlier today, blocking a major highway and burning down IDP camps. They say they are protesting the insecurity in the town.

The protest, which lasted for five hours, from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm, led to the total blockage of the Gummi-Anka federal highway. During this time, they also set ablaze and destroyed several internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps on the outskirts of Anka. These camps are mostly occupied by Fulani people. People familiar with the situation say the destruction is in vengeance, owing to the identity of the constant attackers of the village being Fulani.

Lauwali Tangaran, a protester, told HumAngle, “We host and accommodate the innocent Fulanis in Anka town but their relatives did not stop killing and kidnapping us. Here we are with their [terrorists] wives, parents, and children in the town, yet they always break into our houses for attacks. We have more than 27 victims including pregnant women in the hands of the armed group.” 

AbdulHamid Saidu, 32, a resident of Anka who also participated in the protest, said, “As the protesters, we are tired of the terrorist activities in Anka land. Almost on a daily basis, the armed group either kidnap or kill our people and security authorities are watching them.” 

HumAngle gathered that the armed terrorists have been terrorizing residents of Anka, most of whom are farmers and have been denied access to their farmlands throughout this year’s farming season.

Protests of this magnitude are not new to Zamfara State, however, as many residents from various communities of Tsafe, Shinkafi, Zurmi, Kaura-Namoda, Bakura, Bungudu, and even Gusau, the state capital, have all protested against the rising insecurity in the state. 

Abdul Balarabe, a resident of Gusau, says the insecurity situation in the LGA had been posing challenges to commuters, creating serious panic among the inhabitants of the area. 

“Things are not working well in terms of fighting armed banditry. In all honesty, there is a need for the authorities to sit down with stakeholders and review the security architecture of the state,” Abdul stated. 

The PPRO of the Zamfara State Police Command, confirmed the incident in Anka, saying “The Command is on top of the situation to get rid of attacks launched on the citizens.”