…Says seven colleagues killed, demands better weapons, welfare
A member of the Zamfara State Community Protection Guard, Abdullahi Ibrahim, has alleged that a helicopter he initially believed was a Nigerian Air Force aircraft appeared to coordinate with bandits during an ambush that claimed the lives of seven members of his unit.
Ibrahim, who said he was the only survivor of the eight-man team, made the allegation in a video published by JBC Hausa, while appealing to the Zamfara State Government to urgently improve the equipment, welfare and operational capacity of local security personnel fighting banditry across the state.
According to him, the helicopter flew unusually low over the area during the attack, raising his hope that military reinforcement had arrived to rescue the embattled security team.
“When I saw the helicopter flying very low, I thought the Nigerian Air Force had come to rescue us,” Ibrahim said.
He, however, alleged that the aircraft did not intervene on behalf of the security personnel.
“But surprisingly, the helicopter coordinated with the bandits and led them into the forest,” he alleged.
Ibrahim did not provide evidence identifying the helicopter or establishing that it was a military aircraft. The circumstances surrounding the alleged incident could also not be independently verified from the material available.
The allegation comes amid continuing security challenges in Zamfara, where community-based security personnel have been deployed alongside conventional security agencies to confront armed bandit groups.
Ibrahim also raised concerns over what he described as inadequate weaponry and ammunition available to CPG members operating in high-risk areas.
He claimed that some personnel were being deployed against heavily armed bandits with locally fabricated weapons and insufficient ammunition.
According to him, CPG personnel sometimes go for months without receiving adequate ammunition despite being expected to confront criminal groups equipped with more sophisticated firearms.
He argued that providing the guards with appropriate weapons would significantly improve their ability to confront bandits in their hideouts.
“Give us the right firepower, especially AK-47s, and we can take the fight to the bandits in their hideouts,” he said.
The guard said the disparity in firepower had exposed community security personnel to severe risks, citing the death of seven members of his eight-man unit during the reported ambush.
Beyond weapons, Ibrahim appealed to the state government to review the welfare package for CPG personnel, particularly the reported N30,000 monthly stipend.
He described the amount as inadequate for personnel with family responsibilities.
“There is no way N30,000 can sustain a family. Sometimes, the N30,000 does not even take some of us up to three days,” he said.
Ibrahim said some members have large families, adding that the financial burden makes the current stipend insufficient to meet basic household needs.
He urged the government to consider a substantial improvement in the remuneration and welfare of the guards, particularly given the risks associated with their duties.
The CPG member also criticised what he described as the politicisation of the outfit’s command structure.
He argued that qualified professionals within the security outfit should be considered for leadership positions rather than political appointees without the requisite operational experience.
“Among us, there are university graduates who can establish and operate a proper command structure. Government should not just appoint a politician to head the outfit,” he said.
Ibrahim further called for a more professional command system, improved training, adequate weapons, regular ammunition supplies and better welfare for personnel.
He also cited what he described as better equipment reportedly available to similar community security personnel in Borno State, urging the Zamfara Government to strengthen its own security architecture.
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