Hundreds of protesters, mainly elderly women and nursing mothers from Jimrawa village in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, staged a peaceful demonstration in the state capital, Gusau, over the insecurity situation in the area. This followed a similar protest two weeks earlier by residents of Gusau LGA, who alleged that relentless daily bandits’ attacks had claimed over 100 lives in villages including Mada, Ruwan Bore, Fegin Baza, Lilo, and Bangi. Kaura Namoda and several other local government areas in Zamfara had suffered repeated attacks by armed bandits, leaving dozens killed, abducted, property and livelihoods destroyed, and villages deserted. Residents said the poor condition of roads in the state is aiding the bandits, as security personnel face serious challenges reaching the affected areas promptly. The protesters from the Jimrawa community stormed the Government House in Gusau to demand urgent security intervention. Jimrawa is one of six wards where by-elections are scheduled for August 16, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, worsening insecurity has made normal life impossible, with many residents reportedly in captivity Speaking during the protest, a resident, Maimuna Adamu, said some of their husbands were in bandits’ custody, which explained the large female turnout. “We voted for Governor Dauda Lawal, but since he assumed office in May 2023, he has not fulfilled his promise to improve security,” she said. Another protester, Auwalu Umar, tearfully recounted his loss: “They killed my father, mother, brothers, and sisters. I now live alone with no one to support or even advise me.” An elderly protester, who declined to be named, added: “We won’t return home until we get assurance of our safety. Politicians only care about our votes, not our lives.”