Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle of Zamfara had described peace dialogue with the armed bandits as the last option that awaits him since the Federal Government has failed in its bid to secure the lives of its people.
The Governor who declared this during a Press Conference in Abuja on Tuesday said, he has called for the Press Conference in order to react to the allegations by the opposition APC linking him to aiding banditry in the North West region of the country.
It could be recalled that, APC through its National Publicity Secretary Yekini Nabena had accused Governor Bello Matawalle of having a hand in the bandits activities after over 300 students from GSSS kankara were abducted and moved to Zamfara forest last week.
“Anybody who accused me of aiding bandits activities may be because, he does not have something reasonable to say. Before I was sworn in as Governor, Zamfara State has been under the rule of APC for eight years and every blessed day you hear about one attack or another but when we came in we were able to stabilize so many things regarding things and peace is gradually returning”. The Governor added.
“Now you can move to every part of Zamfara State unlike before when APC was ruling the state reminding that at a time, former Governor Abdulazeez Yari Abubakar had once declared that he had stepped down as the Chief Security Officer of the state, it was actually a shameful moment for the APC” Matawalle added.
“It was a shameful thing for Yari to step down as Chief Security Officer of Zamfara, but as the Governor of the state I have not step down, and I will continue to do everything possible to ensure that I have delivered to my mandate of securing the lives and properties of the people of the state”.
Governor Matawalle further said, “they want me to get annoyed and abandoned my responsibilities and I will never do that, I will continue to explore ways of restoring peace amongst the people of Zamfara State”.
Asked if moving those school children abducted from Kankara to Zamfara forest may be the reason why APC suspected that Zamfara State government is aiding criminality, the Governor argued that, “Zamfara is a home to Fulani, and they have been staying in Zamfara state for decades”.
He said during one of their dialogue with the Fulani someone amongst them informed him that, he leaves around Bukkuyum area of the state for over eighty years but one day his families and relations were slaughtered, and he was left with no option than to fled to Kwara State for his safety.
The Governor said hence members of vigilante were largely accused to be responsible for the crises, when he came in as a Governor he stood his ground by banning the unlawful activities of vigilante (Yan Sakai) in Zamfara State so that peace can be restored.
“Fulani are also integral part of Zamfara people but before now wherever a Fulani man is sighted in Zamfara he will be killed or brutally murdered noting that there is no where in the religion of Islam and Christianity where one is asked to murder a fellow human being for whatever reason.
On the allegation that the state government is given these armed bandits’ protection, Governor Matawalle said, the location and movement of these bandits is known but the security forces lack the powers to strike at them at the forest and killed them noting that, as Governor he will not fold his hands and allow his people to be killed continually.
Matawalle further said, “he will not allow the blood of his people to be wasted illegally” adding that, if to say the security agencies have the facilities and strength to crush the bandits that will be the best option for the people of the state.
On the released of the abducted students of Kankara Science Secondary School Governor Matawalle denied the allegations that the abductees were released by Boko Haram adding that if it were Boko Haram members for sure they would not release the student unconditionally.
