The Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, on Sunday, urged the residents to pray and seek divine intervention on the lingering insecurity in the state.
Lawal made the call in a message at the opening of the state’s 27th Quranic recitation competition in Gusau.
Terrorists on Friday abducted 110 from Mutunji in the Maru local government area of the state.
The terrorists reportedly raided the community over the failure of the villagers to pay a N50 million protection levy the leader of the group demanded earlier.
The hoodlums who were led by one of their leaders known as Damina rode on motorcycles and surrounded the community after evening prayers on Friday.
The governor said: “On behalf of the state government, I extend condolences to families of those who lost their lives recently due to insecurity.
“The state government is aware of the challenges faced by some communities in the state.’’
He said the state government had recruited operatives of Community Protection Guards, a local vigilance group, to provide lasting solutions to insecurity in the state.
Lawal added: “Since its inception, my administration has been making efforts to address security challenges bedeviling our communities.
“I am therefore appealing to people of the state to remain calm and continue to be patient.
“I believe with the measures put in place, very soon the security challenges will become history by God’s grace.”