Hundreds of residents, predominantly women in hijabs, have taken to the streets in protest against the reported withdrawal of military personnel from Bindin community in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, following a deadly bandit attack that claimed the lives of at least nine security personnel.
The protesters reportedly blocked an armoured personnel carrier from leaving the community, insisting that withdrawing troops would expose Bindin and surrounding communities to further attacks by armed bandits.
The protest followed an attack on Monday by suspected bandits loyal to notorious kingpin Kachalla Gwaska Dankarami on Bindin and Gobirawar Chali communities.
The attack reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least nine security personnel, while an unspecified number of civilians were also killed.
Conflict reporter Bakatsine, who shared photographs of the protest, said residents of Bindin had taken to the streets over the reported plan to withdraw security personnel from the area after the security officers were killed.
According to Bakatsine, the protesters feared that pulling out the troops could leave Bindin and neighbouring communities more vulnerable to further attacks.
He said the residents were demanding that security personnel remain in the area, warning that the situation could deteriorate if the communities were left without adequate military protection.
A video shared on X on Wednesday evening by an Open-Source Intelligence analyst, Usman, also showed a large crowd, predominantly women wearing hijabs, surrounding an armoured military vehicle and preventing it from leaving the community.
Usman claimed that thousands of women had blocked an army convoy from leaving the town, saying residents believed the military had been ordered to withdraw.
He described the military presence as critical to the survival of communities in the area, amid persistent attacks by armed groups.
However, while the initial reports and photographs identified the protest location as Bindin in Maru Local Government Area, Usman’s post referred to the location as Bingi in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The reported troop withdrawal has generated concern among residents, who fear that the removal of military personnel could create a security vacuum that would be exploited by bandit groups operating across parts of Zamfara and other communities in Nigeria’s North-West.
Bandit groups have continued to carry out attacks, kidnappings and killings across Zamfara State despite ongoing military operations aimed at dismantling their camps and restricting their activities.
Residents in affected communities have repeatedly called for sustained security deployments, arguing that the presence of soldiers provides a critical deterrent against armed groups and offers communities some measure of protection.
The latest protest also reflects growing frustration among residents of North-West communities who have become increasingly dependent on security forces for protection amid recurring attacks by heavily armed bandits.
Efforts to obtain confirmation from the Defence Headquarters regarding the reported withdrawal of troops were unsuccessful as the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, did not respond to calls as of the time of filing this report.
The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Anele Appolonia, was also unavailable for comment.
The Nigerian military has yet to publicly confirm the reported withdrawal of troops from the affected community or provide details on the circumstances surrounding the deployment.