Military Offensive: Terrorists Beg for Peace Dialogue in Zamfara, Gov Matawalle Rejects Overture
The sustained military offensive has forced terrorists operating in Zamfara State to seek for a peace dialogue with the government of the state. Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara who disclosed the new development however said that his government is no longer interested in dialoguing with bandits as they rejected the olive branch stretched at them earlier.
He said the joint security operation is going on smoothly in flushing out criminal gangs from the state.
He said the bandits’ emissaries informed him that they had repented and would want to dialogue with the 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.
“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.
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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 also said that the Zamfara government would prosecute any politician caught in the act.
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 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.
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.
