The governor of Zamfara state, Bello Matawalle has asked residents in the state to be prepared to armed themselves against incessant banditry attack.
This was according to a statement released by the state’s commissioner of information, Ibrahim Dosara on Saturday, June 25, 2022.
The statement directed the Commissioner of Police to issue gun licence to those eligible to bears arms.
Dorosa stated that the government is ready to facilitate securing of basic weapons for the people, especially farmers, to defend themselves.
The statement reads; “Following increase in the activities of bandits in various parts of the state and the government commitment to ensure adequate security and protection of lives and property of the citizenry in the state, particularly during this rainy season, government has resolved to take further measures to deal with the recent escalating attacks, kidnapping and the criminal levies being enforced on our innocent communities.
“This act of terrorism has been a source of worry and concern to the people and government of the state. Therefore, in order to deal decisively with the situation in our respective communities, government has no option than to take the following measures:
“Government has henceforth, directed individuals to prepare and obtain guns to defend themselves against the bandits, as government has directed the state commissioner of police to issue license to all those who qualify and are wishing to obtain such guns to defend themselves. Government is ready to facilitate people, especially our farmers to secure basic weapons for defending themselves.
“Government has already concluded arrangement to distribute 500 forms to each of the 19 Emirates in the state for those willing to obtain guns to defend themselves.
“People must apply from the Commissioner of Police, license to own guns and such other basic weapons to be used in defending themselves. A secretariat or centre will be established for the collection of intelligence on the activities of informants.
“People are strictly warned and advised to make sure that any information or intelligence about an informant must be true and nothing but the truth, as all information on such informants must carry correct data on the suspects, including their pictures, correct names, address, occupation and witness to testify the genuity of the information given, as government is taking punitive measures against any one found as informant.
“Any person who give wrong information against anybody, will be served the same punishment with an informant and will be treated as such.
“Government has requested the state House of Assembly to pass, as matter of urgency, the informants bill before it, to enable government take the drastic measures on informants as contained in the bill.
“Government has ordered for the recruitment of 200 additional Community Protection Guards in each of the 19 emirates of the state, making it 500 per emirate, to increase their manpower and strengthen its force and capacity to deal with the bandits,” the statement said.
It was gathered that the government has also set up a committee to ensure proper implementation of the measures.
For over a decade, Zamfara state has never sustained peace over a period as banditry and kidnapping continue to trouble the state.
Almost every week there is always one or more reports of killings and kidnappings in the state.
In April 2022, the terrorists invaded Tsafe, a town in Zamfara state, and killed three persons, including the son of Mamman Tsafe, the Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs in Zamfara and a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG).
Days after, the suspected gunmen also abducted some female students and many others in the same town.
Also, earlier this month, the gunmen suspected to be armed bandits invaded Furfuri town of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State and kidnapped 23 persons.
Most of these kidnapped victims are yet to be accounted for as at the time of filing this report.
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