Governor Bello Mohammed (Matawallen Maradun, Barden Hausa, Shattiman Sakkwato) congratulates the parents of released abducted children of Government Science Secondary School Kankara, Katsina State just as he said his administration has been actively engaging the bandits with a view to ensuing that children have been released safely.
The Governor also regretted the statements credited to the All Progressive Congress on the role of Zamfara State in the fight against banditry in the North-Western part of the country.
In a statement by the Governor’s Spoke Person Malam Zailani Bappa reads “Governor Matawalle, was shocked with the statement in the media credited to the National Publicity Secretary of the APC accusing him of harboring bandits who terrorize the North-west”.
Matawalle further said, “this is incidentally a similar statement credited to the Katsina State Governor Hon Aminu Bello Masari sometimes ago when in a similar effort, Governor Matawalle rescued 26 innocent girls abducted by bandits in Faskari Local Government Area of the same Katsina State”.
According to Bappa, although Governor Bello Mohammed has resisted temptation to join issues with anyone on these developments, the unfounded accusations are becoming one too many.
“It is a known fact that Zamfara State under the APC was the worst hit in terms of banditry in the North-west until the coming of Governor Bello Mohammed on board” Bappa added.
“His peace initiatives, which is in tandem with proven records in history across the globe as a viable and necessary option to ending guerilla warfare and similar menace of its kind, is hated and rejected by those who fail or lack the capacity to implement it with honesty, resilience and tact” Bappa said.
“Today, Zamfara state is more peaceful than most of its neighbors because Governor Bello Mohammed has been honest in the approach, a path which could have been the final solution to the problem the region is facing”.
“It is very uncharitable due to political differences to attribute the semblance of peace enjoyed in Zamfara state to criminality of harboring the bandits to terrorize neighboring States”.
“It is heart-warming to note that His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari is quite in tune with every step being taken by Governor Matawalle and has more than once, commended him for the measures he’s been taking to end banditry in the state”.
“Governor Bello Mohammed wishes to inform the General public that his “carrot and stick” approach to dealing with the bandits has succeeded in the recent past by settling with those who accepted the deal and has dealt with the recalcitrant ones leading to the elimination of over 300 bandits in only two months”.
Bappa further said, “It is therefore, ignorance or mischief to attribute the Zamfara forests as safe haven for criminals. It is also an unfortunate and indirect indictment of the Nigerian Military which is under the control of the Federal Government”.
Governor Matawalle wishes to also call on all stakeholders, especially those from the region, to join hands together and find a lasting solution to the problem at hand instead of resorting to blame game which is totally diversionary and counter-productive.
