By Musa Kabiru
As they have always done, the unrepentant losers and unapologetic liars in Zamfara State are back at it again. In recent days, social media has gone into frenzy over a fraudulent and deep fake document suggesting that the Zamfara State Government was committing over ₦1.3 billion to appease notorious bandit kingpins, media organisations and consultants. This outrageous and baseless claim sparked outrage and confusion among concerned citizens and understandably so. It is certainly disheartening to imagine that anyone would attempt to funnel hundreds of millions to bandits in the name of negotiation considering how such negotiations have turned out in the past, and more given how the bandits always walked back on their words after collecting huge bounties from the states.
Ordinarily, one would not have bothered to glorify the unscrupulous elements with a response or even attention but the quantum of such allegations and their consequences in manipulating the minds of the citizens makes it imperative to separate the chaff from the grains and to do the needful.
Fortunately, the Zamfara State government has swiftly and unequivocally denied any such involvement or commitment to funding bandits, the media, media moguls or social media influencers. It is rather ridiculous to even imagine that anyone in his right senses would contemplate such an evil plot. It is therefore, heartening that the government of Zamfara has promptly denounced that document.
In fact, while reiterating its position on the matter, the Dauda Lawal Dare-led government made its position clear: there will be no negotiation with bandits involving any exchange of the state’s scarce resources. Since inauguration, Governor Dauda Lawal Dare has emphasised his firm stance on eradicating banditry through force, not appeasement, and one wonders where such falsehoods which seek to undermine the progress being made in the fight against insecurity is emanating from. Could this be the opposition parties again diving deep into the abyss to fetch vile schemes?
But, how could they have hoped to sell the lie that a Zamfara State government that has consistently maintained a zero-tolerance policy toward negotiations with bandits, especially when it involves draining the public coffers, is now willing to spend over N1 billion on same? The very idea that the state would resort to paying off criminals is not only contrary to the clear and deliberate policies of the current administration, but also its avowed stance on transparent state expenditure. This is evident in how the government has made significant strides in partnering with security agencies to tame the banditry scourge, including its founding of the Zamfara State Community Guards and the establishment of the Zamfara State Security Trust Fund—proactive efforts to bolster local security in collaboration with federal agencies.
Frankly, if anything, Governor Lawal’s body language continues to show that the focus remains on protecting citizens and ridding the state of the violent groups that have terrorised rural communities, and no money has been or will be exchanged for that purpose. Here then, is the reason why it becomes hard to figure out where or how such an uncharitable concoction came about.
The plot became even more ridiculous when the fraudulent document attempted to rope in media moguls and outlets such as Sahara Reporters, led by Omoyele Sowore, and Shuaibu Mungadi, a respected name in the charge towards improved government communication. Sahara Reporters, which was named as part of this concocted scheme, has been an outspoken critic of government misdeeds and an advocate for justice.
Sowore may be many things, but certainly not a terrorism apologist, making it hard to stomach claims of his involvement in such a scheme. It is no surprise then that his response to the allegations is that of vehement condemnations of the claims, labelling them a smear campaign. In fact, he made it clear that neither he nor his media organisation would ever accept funds in exchange for silence or complicity with criminal elements. Sowore believes, and perhaps correctly so, that roping him into this scheme is merely a tactic to discredit him and other respected media houses as they continue to expose the truth.
Similarly, Shuaibu Mungadi—another respected media mogul mentioned in the bogus scheme—runs a platform known for its steadfast commitment towards encouraging open government communication through the capacity building of government functionaries in northern Nigeria. This is why associating his name with such a vile conspiracy is not only absurd but also a gross attempt to distract from the real issues facing the state. Mungadi’s media outfit has been at the forefront of advocating for improved crisis communication, making the idea of his involvement in this alleged scandal laughable to anyone familiar with his work.
However one looks at it, it is clear that the document is nothing more than a concoction from the pit of hell, manufactured to deceive the public and stir up unnecessary outrage. It is a calculated attempt to shift focus away from the real progress being made by the Zamfara State government in its fight against banditry, and to smear reputable media organisations and individuals who have built their names on integrity.
The last one year of the current government in Zamfara State has been one of prioritising the safety and security of the people and with every new policy thrust, one sees Governor Dauda’s demonstrable commitment to collaborating with all security agencies to eliminate the criminal elements destabilising the region. The battle against banditry requires the full backing of citizens, media, and government which is why there is no place for such misleading and unpatriotic narratives designed to stoke fear and mistrust.
As the government’s message has remained clear that Zamfara will not bow to banditry, and no amount of false propaganda will undermine its efforts to rid the state of criminals, it is critical that the source of that evil document be unearthed and the dangerous elements behind it brought to book. Nigeria’s secret police must as a matter of urgency fish out those behind this inciting document.
It’s apparent that those who have suffered a humiliating defeat in the last election together with the selfish individuals who have held the state to ransom are hell-bent on frustrating the progress made within the short stay of Dauda Lawal as governor of the state. It’s also on record that the major players in the opposition have accused themselves of complicity and culpability in the banditry that have ravaged the state and denied it progress on all indices of development and peaceful coexistence. To the extent that in class, those who failed will always accuse and envy the successful ones, this latest antic too, isn’t surprising!
• Kabiru writes from Abuja
