Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle has insisted that, despite sustained military effort by the federal government to ending banditry activities in Zamfara state, ldialogue remains the best option.
In a statement by Governor’s Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment Media and Communications Malam Zailani Bappa noted that, the Governor made this position when he received in audience the Chief of Air Staff Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar paid him a courtesy call at the Government House in Gusau.
The Governor commended the effort of the federal government for the renewed effort of fighting banditry through hot military operations especially in the North West geopolitical zone.
He however, “warned that the fight against the bandits must not remain an all Military affair. I still believe that engaging the bandits in meaningful dialogue is the best process of bringing this criminality to the end”, the statement posited.
The statement further reads “if the Military want to succeed in their current operation, the must change their strategy. Just look at what happened a few days ago, the bandits struck ruthlesslessly in one of our neighbouring States, even after the Military have a day earlier dealt a heavy blow on them”.
Matawalle maintained that, if the Military wants to succeed in its current operation, it must take into cognisance the central role Zamfara forests play in the activities of the bandits.
Earlier, Air Marshall Abubakar told the Governor that he was in the state to se for himself what his officers are doing and assured the Governor that his force will remain committed supporting government effort aimed at fighting banditry in the country.
