Governor Bello Matawalle has declared that the shutdown of telecommunication network in Zamfara has resulted to the rescue of (544) abductees, including two students from FGC Yauri in kebbi state.

The Governor who spoke during the swearing in ceremony of two new Commissioners and other appointees said during the period under review (18) other students from College of Agriculture and Animal Science Bakura were also rescued from captivity.

According to the statement by the Governor’s Spokesperson Yusuf Idris Gusau said, (75) students of GDSS Kayak were equally rescued from their abductors during the period of telecommunication shutdown.

Matawalle further said, many suspects were arrested on allegations of having connection of with armed bandits, as well as interceptions of alcoholic drinks and hard drugs meant for use by the bandits.

Yusuf quoted the Governor saying “having attended the United Nations Conference of Partners in Glasgow, this November, and realized that banditry might be connected to climate change as revealed by experts, being a subnational entity, Zamfara State, like other members of the global community, will be part of the global conversation on issues that will make our State safer and conducive for development activities”.

He further called on stakeholders in the state to join hands with his administration in harnessing the vast natural mineral resources in the state for growth and development.

He described as critical, the need for stakeholders to join hands with his government to ensure that the vast mineral resources available in the state are harnessed for the present and future growth and development of the state rather than allowing them untapped.

He also said, his administration is doing its best to put an end to banditry and all other forms of criminalities to create a conducive environment for investors, which will in turn generate more employment opportunities for the youth.

On the new appointees, the governor charged them to bring their wealth of experiences to bear in the discharge of their new responsibilities, to justify the confidence reposed in them by both the government and people of the state.

Delivering a vote of thanks on behalf of the new appointees, Honorable Muktar Ahmad Darma thanked the governor for finding them worthy of the appointment and promised to discharge their duties with utmost sense of honesty and fear of God.

He assured that they will individually and collectively support the governor in security,, especially in his efforts to end banditry and other criminal activities in the state.