Some repentant bandits in Tsafe
Local Government area of Zamfara, on Monday explained why they took up arms
against the people of the area.
The ex-bandits said at a peace
meeting in Tsafe that they were harassed and intimidated by the police and
vigilantes, locally known as ”Yan Sakai, into becoming bandits and kidnappers.
During the meeting held at the
palace of the Emir of Tsafe, Alhaji Muhammadu Bawa, one of the bandits
commanders, Hassan Dantawaye, said they were unjustly treated by the government
and society.
“We were forced into this,
because apart from cattle rustling incidents we faced some years back, we also
faced serious harassment and intimidation from security personnel and
”Yansakai.
“We cannot go to markets, our
children cannot go to school, whenever they see our children or wives in town
they killed them.
“If security personnel arrest us,
we have to spend alot of money before we are released, sometimes security
agencies launch attacks on our homes and kill us without any offence.
“With this ugly trend, we have no
option than to embark on kidnapping, attacks and others crimes”, Dantawaye
said.
Alhaji Madele, a fulani leader,
however, thanked the state government for the dialogue and urged the security
agencies to protect them from ”Yansakai and some security personnel who attack
them unjustly in markets and towns.
Madele said, “we have agreed to
embrace peace and dialogue, we commend the commissioner of police for inviting
us for this meeting”.
The repentant bandits’ commanders
also promised to release all captives in their custody.
Nobody will be attacked anymore,
they pledged, adding that farmers in the area were free to go to their farms
without any fear.
The Chairman of the Civilian
Joint Task Force (CJTF) in the area, Alhaji Yahaya Ahmad, assured of total
support to the peace initiative.
“As from today, no vigilante
group or CJTF member would attack any fulani herder, we will abide by the state
government’s directive in this regard.
“Fulani herders are now free to
come to Tsafe town and all major towns in this area. They can go to markets and
anywhere else they so wish.
“I am giving them the assurance
that our members would not attack them any more”, he said.
The state Commissioner of Police,
Alhaji Usman Nagoggo who chaired the meeting, described the security situation
faced by the state in past as unfortunate.
Nagoggo said, “I remember the day
I arrived this state as commissioner of police, over 30 persons were killed in
Shinkafi local government area.
“After identifying the measures
to tackle the problem, the state government came up with the peace and diologue
initiative with the warring parties as part of measures to provide lasting
solution to the problem.
“We embarked on consultation with
Fulani leaders, Civilian JTF, and Vigilante Groups which led to the successes
we are recording today.
“From the inception of this
diologue to date we have rescued over 300 kidnapped victims from the bandits
without payment of ransom,” he said.
He added: “As I always say, most
of the extra judicial killings and illegal attacks on communities were as a
result of the actions of the outlawed vigilante group of “Yansakai, who were
taking the law into their hands.
“Our aim is to have sustainable
peace and development in the state, therefore, all stakeholders should
cooperate with us in this task.
“I am also reissuing this warning
that all activities of “Yansakai are suspended and nobody should take the law
into their hands.
“Anybody found violating these
directives would face the full wrath of the law”, the Police boss added.
The Emir of Tsafe, Alhaji
Muhammadu Bawa thanked the warring
parties for attending the meeting and accepting peace.
Bawa said the emirate would
continue to support the state government to ensure that the diologue succeeds.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
recalls that the state governor, Alhaji Bello Matawalle initated the peace
dialogue as part of measures to end banditry, kidnapping and other crimes in
the state.
The meeting in Tsafe was attended
by repentant bandits’ commanders, members of the CJTF, officials of Miyetti
Allah Cattle Breeders Association and members of the outlawed ”Yansakai local
vigilantes.(NAN)
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