Residents of Maru Local Government Area in Zamfara State have heaped praise on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister of State for Defence Dr. Bello Muhammad Matawalle, and Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa for what they describe as a “timely and life-saving intervention” in the region’s long-running security crisis.
For over a year, communities in Maru LGA were under siege by armed bandits who killed dozens, kidnapped residents, and razed properties—including the revered Maru Emirate Council.
Among the casualties was the Chief Imam of the area, whose death sent shockwaves across the state and underscored the deteriorating security.
Residents say repeated appeals to state authorities yielded no results, until they escalated the matter to Dr. Matawalle, a former Zamfara governor.
According to locals, the Defence Minister acted swiftly, coordinating with federal authorities to deploy security operatives to the troubled LGA.
Since the intervention, many of the armed groups have been neutralised, and large stockpiles of weapons were seized during military operations.
Villagers now speak of a newfound sense of safety, with night raids and abductions drastically reduced in recent weeks.
“We can sleep with our eyes closed again,” one resident told Al Jazeera.
Community leaders say the role played by General Musa in operational strategy was also critical to the success of the security mission.
They credited President Tinubu for empowering the Defence Ministry to act decisively in remote and often-neglected areas like Maru.