Bandits kill 27 in Zamfara villages

‘Men key to successful family planning services’

Suspected armed bandits have killed at least 27 people in attacks on Kabaro and Danmani villages in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Daily Trust gathered. Last week, 26 people were killed in similar attacks on KuruKuru and Jarkuka villages in Anka Local Government Area.

The attack on Kabaro, a village located 24 kilometres west of Dansadau town came six years after at least 18 people were shot by bandits and cattle rustlers in the same community in October 2012.

The troubled Dansadau district is one of the areas hit hard by the activities of armed bandits and cattle rustlers. The notorious cattle rustling kingpin called Buharin Daji was killed in a forest near Dansadau town.

Residents told Daily Trust that the gunmen had earlier intercepted two men on a motor bike on their way to the village from Dansadau town and shot them. Angered by the development, residents mobilized and caught one of the bandits,

Sand publicly executed him.

Upon learning about the development, the gunmen returned, laid siege on the community and started shooting at residents after they had blocked likely escape routes. They killed 23 people in Kabaro and four in Dammani.

Zamfara’s police spokesman, DSP Muhammad Shehu, confirmed the attack. takeholders in the healthcare sector have said it is important to involve and target men in all interventions and discussions on family planning in order to ensure success. They said men’s ownership and responsibility on family planning was also important in meeting Nigeria’s family planning 2020 commitments.

The stakeholders gave the advice yesterday in Abuja during a forum organised by the Nigeria Health Watch with the theme ‘The Elephant In The Room Men As Change Agents In Family Planning Discourse’.

UNFPA Country Representative, Nigeria, Dr Diene Keita, said that evidence from scientific research has shown that engaging local male networks could positively influence uptake of family planning services.

The Amira FOMWAN Kano State chapter, Hajiya Sa’adatu Hashim, said Nigeria could not afford to exclude men in the discourse as they were the decision makers, especially in the North.

The Chairman Association for the Advancement of Family Planning, Dr Ejike Orji, said Nigeria is experiencing demographic crises and that family planning should be taken as a serious national development strategy for the country to move forward.

The Director Family Health Department, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Adebimpe Adebiyi, said family planning was key to ending poverty in the country.

Country Director Marie Stopes, Effiom Effiom, said men must show a positive attitude to family planning.