Gov. Matawalle rules out hope of ending banditry in Zamfara  

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State, in a media interaction after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, on Monday, ruled out the ending of banditry in the northwest within a short time, saying that banditry will not end soon in Zamfara State.

Governor Matawalle decried that that on innocent citizens by bandits in Zamfara State cannot end soon because some individuals are behind the violence.

The governor had declared: “I don’t think this issue of banditry will end very soon because already, some people are behind it.

“Some people are using it and all they need is at least to show Nigerians that both the Federal and Zamfara State governments are not serious about the issue of insecurity, despite the fact that some of them are involved in the crisis of this insecurity. But we’re doing our best.”

Governor Matawalle, however, maintained that the individuals cannot deter the state and federal governments in their determination to end banditry in Zamfara and other parts of the northwest. He assured that residents of the state would be experiencing significant security improvement in the state. He disclosed that President Buhari is initiating certain strategies which within 48 hours, will stimulate improvement of the security situation.

Governor Matawalle chided instigators of insecurity, he identified as political bandits, for sponsoring fake news on the number of persons killed in recent attacks on some communities in Zamfara State. The governor refuted reports that about 200 persons were killed in the attacks on Bukuyyum and Anka Local Government Areas by bandits. He disclosed that 58 persons were killed in the attacks.

“I have already cleared the air about the figures because I have seen some reporting that 200 people, 300 people, 500 people were killed,” he said. “I went to the community myself and with the security agencies.

Governor Matawalle declared: “First, we went to Bungudu and we confirmed from the Emir that it was only 36 people that have been killed and two communities were razed by these bandits, and when we went to Anka.

“We met the Emir, and he gave us a list of 22 people that have been killed, making a total number of 58 people killed. But as I’ve been saying, there are some political bandits who have been spreading lies, rumours so that they can achieve some political gain.