Massacre in Banga: Zamfara Gov Fails to Act as Bandits Slaughter Innocents

In what has now become one of the most painful tragedies in recent Zamfara history, over 200 innocent residents of Banga village in Kauran Namoda Local Government Area were abducted by ruthless bandits who demanded a ₦100 million ransom. These victims—mostly poor farmers and traders—were forcefully taken from their homes and held under terrifying conditions. The terrified villagers, despite their poverty and lack of government support, managed to gather ₦70 million in a desperate effort to save their people. But instead of releasing the captives, the terrorists carried out a brutal massacre, killing nearly 50 people—many of them women and children—without mercy.

This heinous act should have sparked outrage and immediate action from the highest levels of government. But shockingly, Governor Dauda Lawal Dare—who swore to protect lives and restore security—offered nothing but silence. No visit. No condolence. Not even a single government representative was sent to console the grieving families or assess the humanitarian disaster. It was as if the lives lost meant absolutely nothing to the very person who swore an oath to defend them.

This is not just a failure of leadership—it is a total moral collapse. What makes this even more infuriating is the fact that Governor Dauda Lawal Dare once stood on campaign podiums across Zamfara, boldly declaring that he would end insecurity in the state within two weeks—or at most, one month—if elected. That promise was loud, repeated, and central to his campaign. And yet, more than two years into his administration, insecurity has worsened to unimaginable levels. Communities are being wiped out, children are being buried in mass graves, and parents are weeping over the graves of their daughters—all while the governor stays mute and distant.

How can a governor be so detached while his people bleed? How can he sleep peacefully while the very citizens who trusted him are slaughtered in cold blood? Governor Dauda’s silence in the face of this tragedy is not only inhumane—it is dangerous. It emboldens the terrorists. It discourages the people. It erodes every last ounce of hope in government.

The people of Zamfara did not elect a ghost—they elected a governor. They expected a leader who would stand with them in times of crisis, not one who would vanish when the state needed him most. This crisis in Banga village is not just a local issue—it is a national shame. It is a bitter reminder that leadership without compassion is a curse on the people.

Governor Dauda Lawal Dare must be held accountable for abandoning his responsibilities. His inaction, his failed promises, and his inability to confront the worsening insecurity in Zamfara State have become a threat to the survival of its people. If he cannot rise to the occasion and protect the lives of those he governs, then the question must be asked: what is he still doing in office?