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Fighting Banditry should not only be a military affair – Governor Matawalle
Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle of Zamfara state has said that dialogue remain the best option for the attainment of sustainable peace against banditry in the country.
He made the assertion when the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar paid him a courtesy call at the Government House in Gusau.
Governor Matawalle commended the efforts of thd Federal Government in the renewed fight against banditry in the state and the Country at large, especially with the recent launching of a frontal attack on the bandits across the entire North-Western state.
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”, Governor Matawalle posited.
He said that 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”, Governor Matawalle added.
“The Military must also remember that Zamfara is the epicenter of the banditry menace in the country. Because of our large forested reserves, which links to very far distance across the country, the bandits can travel anywhere and commit their atrocities and return into our forests again”, Governor Matawalle observed.
He said that if the Military will succeed in its current operation, it must take into cognisance the central role Zamfara forests play in the activities of the bandits.
In a statement signed by Governor Bello Matawalle’s special Adviser on Media Zailani Baffa Air Marshall Abubakar told the Governor that he was in the state to inspect the activities of his officers and assured the Governor that his Force will remain committed to its goal of eliminating banditry in the state”.