Zamfara Governor, Bello Matawalle, says that the state
government is no longer interested in holding a dialogue with bandits, noting
that they had spurned the olive branch once extended to them.
He said in Gusau that instead, security forces would flush
them out of the state.
“My administration will no longer grant amnesty to bandits
as they have failed to embrace the peace initiative earlier extended to them,’’
the governor said, while addressing a congregation.
He urged residents to be patient and to support new security
measures put in place to flush out bandits and their collaborators to restore
peace in the state.
The governor said the barrage of attacks on bandits by
security forces had made them to make a fresh overture to government seeking
dialogue.
He said the bandits’ emissaries informed him that they had
repented and would want to dialogue with government.
He noted that some of the bandits were running out of
Zamfara to other states as a result of the new security measures introduced by
the state government.
Matawalle warned politicians against giving any form of
support to bandits, stressing that: “politicians should fear God and stop
buying motorcycles to distribute to people who, in turn, sell to bandits to
perpetuate their evil acts.’’
The governor said also that Zamfara government would
prosecute any politician caught in the act.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Zamfara had cut off
food, petroleum products supply and other essential commodities from the reach
of the bandits in their various camps.
The government had also incepted several vehicles conveying
food, drinks and petroleum products to various bandits’ camps in the state.
The government said earlier that it had also arrested more
than 100 violators of Gov. Matawalle’s Executive Order to restore law and order
in the state.
Matawalle had established the Special Taskforce to enforce
measures to address the lingering security challenges of mass kidnapping for
ransom and cattle rustling in the state.
On Aug. 26, the governor signed an Executive Order
suspending all weekly markets in Zamfara, banned bicycles and motorcycles from
carrying more than one passenger and not more than three passengers in the case
of tricycles.
The order read in part: “No bicycle, motorcycle or tricycle
shall ply any road or run within Zamfara State between 6.30 p.m. and 6 a.m.,
while in Gusau metropolis, the ban shall be between 8 p.m. and 6a.m.
“No firewood or charcoal shall be transported from the bush
to any part of Zamfara State by bicycle, motorcycle, tricycle, car, articulated
vehicle, lorry, truck or any vehicle by whatever name called.
“No sheep or cow shall be transported into or outside
Zamfara State.
“The sale of
petroleum products by fuel stations within the control of a village head is
banned.
“Fuel stations shall not sell petroleum products in jerry
can or any other container to any customer.
“No fuel station shall sell more than five litres to motorcyclists,
tricyclists and not more than 40 litres to any vehicle.
“All shops, kiosks, containers, tents and stands located at
Garejin Mailaina, Gusau, are hereby closed.’’
The state government had also established a Special
Taskforce to ensure full compliance with the order while mobile courts were set
up to prosecute violators.
Meanwhile, commercial activities in the state have been
halted following the two weeks suspension of telecommunication networks in the
state by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC).
All banking services, mobile telephone services, internet
and other related services have also been suspended.
In a related development, Commissioner of Police in Zamfara,
Mr Ayuba Elkanah, announced the suspension of movement of all motorcycles with
clutches in 13 local government areas of the state.
In a chat with newsmen, Elkanah urged members of the public
to continue to support security agencies by giving them vital information that
would assist in fighting crimes and criminally in the state.
“In a bid to achieve this aim, additional measures have been
put in place.
“Riding of motorcycles that have clutches have been banned
in the 13 local government areas of the state in addition to the earlier
enforcement of restrictions on motorcycles and tricycles in Gusau Local
Government Area.
“In Gusau area, Damba and Mada are equally affected in the
ban on riding motorcycles with clutches,’’ Elkanah said.
The police commissioner said they had authoritative
information that some unscrupulous elements use the vehicles, especially Golf
III cars and Canter trucks, to supply petroleum products and food items to
bandits camps,
Elkanah enjoined residents in Zamfara to bear with the
security agencies because the measures put in place are temporarily and are in
the best interest of the state.
“We urge residents to remain law-abiding and to collaborate
with security agencies in ensuring that peace and security is restored in the
state,’’ the police commissioner said.
(NAN)
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