A biological son to a popular bandit leader, Buharin Daji Muhammad Sani Zakui has surrendered himself to the peace initiative of Governor Bello Matawalle in Gusau on Thursday after surrendering his arms to the State Police Commissioner.
The formal handing over of the arms was conducted in the presence of Governor Bello Matawalle, state security chiefs and members of the Ulama Consultative Forum.
Part of the arms surrendered by the bandit leader included 8 AK 47 rifles, a single unit of Mack ten gun, one unit of RPG gun, a unit of Rocket Launcher and 1,041 live amunition.
Governor Bello Matawalle who expressed confidence with the successes recorded by the peace initiative called on the people to continue to pray for the return of sustainable peace in the state.
He commended the courage of the bandit leader for surrendering his arms and encouraged others who are yet to surrender to follow same path for peace to reign.
Matawalle further said, in less than two weeks, his Administration had received four more groups of repentant Bandits in furtherance to his carrot and stick approach aimed at ensuring a lasting peace.
He enjoined his colleagues, Governors across the country to embark on the peace and reconciliation strategies with the bandits and create for them a sense of belonging.
He thanked the Emir of Maru and other stakeholders in the Area for having talks with the Bandits which led to the success recorded.
Zamfara State Commissioner for Security a d Home Affairs Abubakar Dauran explained that since the beginning of the peace process and reconciliation with bandits in the state, about 181 sophisticated weapons, 1525 live Ammunitions, 64 magazines, 2 number of Handcuffs as well as 887 locally fabricated Den guns were voluntarily surrendered by repentant bandits and local vigilantè group (Yansakai) across the state.
Earlier, the Emir of Maru, Alhaji Abubakar Gado Maigari told the Governor that his emirate and other stakeholders in the area engaged the bandits through dialogue and the engagement led to the ocassion when they have accepted to embrace peace.
Chairman of Zamfara Ulama Consultative Forum Sheikh Abubakar Fari administered an oath on the bandits using the Holly Quran.
Sheikh Abubakar Sodangi who delivered special lecture at the occasion called on the bandits to continue to take the path of reconciliation since the Governor had consulted widely before arriving at that decision.
The repentant bandit Sani Zakui said, he had realized that no matter how long he stayed in the forest perpetuating banditry, he may not achieve anything and therefore opted to embrace peace and reunite with the general public.
He confirmed that, he toured many forests along Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroun and explained that throughout the period he stayed in the business, he had achieved nothing and that informed his decision to embrace peace.
