Foreign Construction Firms Now Pay Bandits In Advance For Protection In Zamfara – Whistle-blower
A non-commercial whistle-blower identified as Mahdi Shehu has claimed that foreign organisations and construction firms working in Zamfara State, now pay bandits to protect their workers, engaging in various construction projects in the state and across the country.
In a video posted on his verified X handle, @shehu_mahdi, on Monday, Shehu showed a Lebanese expatriate handling a road dualisation project in Zamfara State, protected by an armed bandit known as Mai-Jakka.
According to him, Mai-Jakka is responsible for most kidnappings, abductions, rape, killings, and maimings along the Sokoto-Gusau road.
The whistle-blower, who is also a public affairs analyst, wondered why such a situation would be happening when the government and its security agencies had claimed to be on 24-hour surveillance of the state and other areas across the state, questioning the effectiveness of the government’s drones.
He further stated that the Lebanese engineer is now working as a negotiator with the bandits, for people who want protection from the bandits on the highways.
The post reads: “The white Lebanese in the video below is heading a road dualization protect in Zamfara state. The Bob merly style hair armed guy is a wanted bandit called mai- jakka, responsible for most kidnappings, abductions, rapings, killings, and maimings along Sokoto-.Gusau Road.
“Funnily, he is walking freely, prompting one to ask about the purpose of the multi-billion Naira drones. Same drones that were deployed and killed innocent souls on religious celebrations. Those can afford to pay for personal safety and protection along high ways should contact the labenese Engineer and learn the art and skills of negotiating with armed non-state actors.”
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
