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BANDITRY: Service Chiefs visit Zamfara State, to deploy 6,000 troops, as Gov Mutawalle bans vigilante groups
By IBRAHIM KANOMA, Gusau
The service chiefs in Nigeria, in continuation of the implementation of presidential order on terrorism and banditry in the country, were in Gusau, Zamfara State capital on Tuesday.
While in the state, the service chiefs; Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Ishaq Oladapo Amao, and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo, were received in the Government House by Governor Bello Muhammad Mutawalle.
They were led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor in a security meeting with the state Governor, Bello Muhammad Matawalle.
Others at the function include heads of security agencies in Zamfara State, traditional rulers, law makers, members of the state executive council and other top government functionaries.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, the CDS, Irabor, said they were in Zamfara State to assess the security situation through their Field Commanders.
General Irabor said Mr. President had given clear mandate to restore lasting peace in the country, particularly in Zamfara and North West zone.
According to him, the service chiefs were determined to ensure the task was accomplished based on Presidential directives to crush the bandits terrorizing the state.
He said the military was ever ready to carry out their assignment unhindered.
Receiving the military top bras, Governor Matawalle called on the Federal Government to provide modern warfare equipment to enable troupes of the armed forces to defeat the bandits who, he said, were spread in the forest of Zamfara and neighboring states, adding that there must be robust approach to fight to end the bandits’ activities in the North West zone.
He said while the state government would continue with the dialogue with the criminal elements, it would also provide all necessary support and logistics to the military to succeed in their assignment.
The governor reiterated the need for the military to pursue the bandits right in the forest not to wait until they attack before they act.
In a statewide broadcast later, the Governor of Zamfara State, Hon. Bello Muhammad Mutawalle, informed the people of the North West community that about six thousand troops were to be deployed to the state to combat the and end the menace of bandits and bring lasting peace to the people.
To achieve this, the governor said all necessary arrangements had been concluded for the arrival of the troops.
For the last time, he once again warned all bandits still in the act to, under a must, surrender their weapons and repent within two months or face total elimination, even as he further said any bandit that refused to surrender would face the consequences of his action.
Governor Mutawalle further said all activities of vigilante group are also banned in the state, warning that anyone that violates the directives would have his government to contend with.
He ordered security agencies to arrest any motorcycle rider found carrying more than one person, adding that there should be no movement of motorcycles in groups.
Speaking further, he directed that all traditional rulers and local government caretaker chairmen should remain in their respective areas till further notice, while appealing to people of the state to give all the necessary support and cooperation to laid down rules and regulations.
