Zamfara Gov. Bello Matawalle and Kaduna Islamic scholar Abu Gumi are no longer on the same page, as far as amnesty for bandits goes, and nothing will make the governor. change his mind.
Their campaign for amnesty ended when Matawalle was overwhelmed two weeks ago, and the military had to shut down the state to launch a full-on offensive
Gumi, bitter, is raging as the federal government dispatches Tucano bombers to smoke out the bandits of the forest, describing it as sabotage of his effort.
But the governor is happy.
More so because the terrorists are taking it full blast, and are seeking a fresh roundtable now.
“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 September 11 in Gusau.
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 also said that Zamfara government would prosecute any politician caught in the act.
The National Daily reported how state is currently under some sort of lockdown now. Telecommunications, transportation, and other commercial activities are grounded for now.