The Executive Secretary of the Zamfara State Investment Promotion Agency (ZIPA), Hajia Mariam Yaro, has revealed that she was attacked by suspected bandits while travelling in Zamfara State, sustaining gunshot injuries during the incident.
Yaro disclosed the attack on Tuesday while speaking at the the First Daily National Dialogue on Insecurity held in Abuja on Tuesday, where she shared her personal experience amid discussions on the country’s security challenges.
According to her, the attack occurred a few kilometres from Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, while she was on an official assignment.
Sources familiar with the incident said the assailants, suspected to be armed bandits, opened fire on her vehicle, leaving her with gunshot wounds.
Speaking at the dialogue, Yaro described insecurity as one of Nigeria’s greatest challenges, attributing its persistence to factors including poor governance and a weak educational system.
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She argued that addressing insecurity requires tackling its underlying socio-economic causes in addition to strengthening security operations.
Yaro was appointed Executive Secretary of the Zamfara State Investment Promotion Agency in October 2023 by Governor Dauda Lawal, with the mandate to drive investment and economic development in the state.
Her attack highlights the continued security concerns in Zamfara, where armed banditry, kidnappings and attacks on travellers remain major threats despite ongoing military and security operations across the North-West.