Bello Matawalle
Zamfara State government has issued a prohibition notice on the movements of a large number of motorbikes in all the nooks and crannies of the state, while directing security forces to ensure total compliance.
The government also banned the conveyance of more than two persons on a motorbike with immediate effect, directing security agents to arrest and arraign the violators of the order for prosecution.
The was contained in governor Bello Matawalle’s broadcast speech to citizens of the State on Security situation on Tuesday.
According to the governor, “it is pertinent for me to address you once again on the state of security of our dear state”.
He noted that the primary responsibility of government is to secure the lives and property of the citizenry, as such all the measures being put in place are with a view to securing our state and putting behind us the dark period of banditry and other related crimes.
Matawalle recalled that at about 1 a.m, on Friday 26th February 2021 a group of bandits attacked Government Girls Junior Secondary Schoool, Jangebe, in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of the state and abducted 279 schoolgirls, an episode that shook not just the people of Zamfara State but Nigerians and the entire world.
“It again brought to the global attention the type of security challenges our state and many others in the north were battling with and brought to the fore the urgent need to take further steps to deal with the situation comprehensively”.
“We have already secured the release of all the 279 abducted students, hale and hearty. They have all been reunited with members of their families”.
“Following this development, I undertook a four-day working visit to Abuja to brief Mr. President and other critical stakeholders on security. As a fall out of my discussion with President Muhammadu Buhari and security high commands in Abuja, it was resolved that six thousand additional troops are to be deployed to the state to complement the current efforts by the security forces in the state. The troops will soon arrive in the state for their operations”.
“As you may recall, President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered security forces to shoot on sight anyone found in possession of AK 47 without permission.
He added that even though the State was enjoying relative peace as a result of the dialogue and reconciliation programme, many bandits have refused to key into the programme and elected to sustain their attacks and other nefarious activities against our communities.
“The government has equally observed that there is sabotage by some unscrupulous elements, both within and outside the state. It is also observed that informants are becoming rampant and their callous activities undetected due to some of our people’s attitude of indifference”.
i. The recalcitrant bandits have been given two months from today within which to embrace the peace process and surrender their weapons to the government;
ii. All political actors are hereby advised to desist from any acts capable of endangering the state’s security, as security agencies have been directed to monitor the activities of all the political actors and take appropriate action against the violators;
iii. Traditional rulers and Local Government Councils’ sole administrators are hereby directed to always remain in their respective domains to monitor the influx of any suspicious characters.
iv. Government observed, with dismay, the persistence of the activities of some yansakai, despite the banning of such vigilante groups. This order still remains in force.
“While government appreciates the role being played by members of the press in our efforts to bring lasting peace to our state, we have observed with great dismay the activities of some few media organizations in promoting fake news, causing psychological trauma and panic among our people”.
“The government is therefore calling on such media organizations that publish or air news or opinions concerning the security situation in the state without proper cross-checking and balancing of their reports before going to press to desist from such professional misconduct”.
“Government is not unaware of some unscrupulous elements, particularly among the political class, who regularly sponsor some social media handlers to create various social media accounts, including cloning some reputable media organizations, using them to publish fake news”.
