Angry residents have set fire to the palace of the Emir of Maru, located in the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, following the disruption of their peaceful protest against terrorism on Thursday.
According to Drivetvnews, the protest was sparked by the recent abduction of 10 people by terrorists in the area. The youths took to the streets to express their outrage over the increasing insecurity.
A local source told Drivetvnews that the terrorists attacked the town around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, firing their guns indiscriminately to instill fear and panic among the residents.
The attackers also kidnapped the Chief Imam of the Maru Central Mosque, Alhaji Salisu Suleman, along with his two wives and seven children. The Imam, along with nine family members, was taken during the assault, the source confirmed.
The devastating attack led to an outpouring of anger from the local community, particularly the youth, who then organized the protest demanding immediate action from the government. The demonstration blocked the popular Sokoto-Gusau highway, prompting security forces to intervene and disrupt the gathering.
In response to their grievances, the protesters proceeded to the Emir’s palace, setting a portion of the building on fire to express their discontent with the government’s failure to protect them from the ongoing banditry.
A video obtained by Drivetvnews showed part of the palace engulfed in flames, with a voice in the background stating, “This is a fire outbreak in the Emir’s palace.”
This incident reflects the growing frustration and desperation among residents in Zamfara State, who feel that the government has not done enough to combat the escalating violence in the region. The state government has faced widespread criticism for its handling of the crisis, with many calling for stronger measures against the terrorists and bandits.
Drivetvnews made several attempts to contact Yazid Abubakar, the spokesperson for the Zamfara Police Command, but he declined to respond to calls and has yet to reply to follow-up text messages.
