Zamfara State Government has dissociated itself from the ongoing plans by some suspected group of individuals claiming to be the agents of the Peace Accord initiated by the Federal Government to negotiate with bandits to address the lingering security challenges in the state.
A statement by the State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mannir Haidara said “We noted with dismay over the attitudes of some unpatriotic group of people claiming to be assigned by the Federal Government to go around in some parts of the state and negotiate with bandits as part of the measure to end banditry activities in the state”.
The State Government described the step as illegal and against the wishes of the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal and the entire people of the state. It also said, that the Zamfara State Government is not a party to it and is not supporting the move, and said, on several occasions Governor Dauda Lawal announced that his government has no plans to negotiate or support any peace accord with bandits operating in the State.
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The move has been described by the Zamfara State Government as politically motivated by the enemies of the state with a mission to demoralise the plans and commitment of the present administration in fighting banditry and other criminal activities in the state.
The State Government has rejected the so-called peace accord initiative with bandits by these groups of individuals and called on the general public as well as security agencies to monitor and reject their movement in the state. It said the groups are politically constituted to cause mayhem and frustrate efforts of security agencies and the present administration of Governor Dauda Lawal in tackling the current security challenges in the state.
“The general public is hereby assured that the State Government in collaboration with security agencies are on top of the security situations in the state and is working tirelessly to ensure that peace returns to the state and that the lives and properties of the entire Zamfara people are protected, issues of banditry has become a history in the state”.
The State Government however extended its condolences and sympathy to the victims of the recent banditry attacks at Sakaji and Bilbis villages in Kaura Namoda and Tsafe local government areas, describing the incidents as unfortunate and would not be allowed to continue.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
