*Vows to treat carriers of lies about Zamfara as terrorists
*As Emirs put total death at 58, wonder where Journalists got 200, 500
“We cannot fold our arms and allow people to always create panick and paint gorier picture of actual happenings in the state. We are faced with a big trial which we are doing our best to address. There is no justification for anyone to wish us deeper trouble than where our people are today”, Governor Matawalle warned
By IBRAHIM KANOMA, Gusau
Governor of Zamfara State, Hon. Bello Mohammed, Matawallen Maradun, has visited Anka and Bukkuyum Local Governments to comisserate and assess damages done to the victims of recent banditry attacks in the areas.
Zailani Bappa, Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, making this known in a statement issued in Gusau and handed to our Correspondent on Saturday, said the governor decried decried misrepresentation of facts by a section of the media.
According to the statement, Governor Bello went to the scenes of the incidents along with the state Commissioner of Police and the General Officer Commanding the Nigerian Army Division coffering the state.
The governor was said to have earlier visited the two monarchs of Anka, Alhaji Attahiru Mohamned Anka and that of Bukkuyum, Alhaji Mohammed Usman in their separate palaces.
The Emirs, who gave the Governor authentic list of villages attacked and the list of victims who lost their lives, wondered where recent media reports were sourced on the attacks.
The correct figure lives lost stood at 58, he said.
Our Correspondent, who made the trip with the governor, reports that the Emir of Anka gave a list of 22 deaths, while the Emir of Bukkuyum gave a list of 36 deaths as well as seven villages in Anka Local Government Area and one village in Bukkuyum Local Government Area confirmed to have been attacked.
This is against the various figures ranging from 200 to 500 deaths and 11 villages attacked in the media.
The two Emirs called on the Governor to continue with his laudable effort of fighting banditry in the State.
Governor Matawalle commisserated with the two Emirs and their entire subjects over the unfortunate incidents and promised to address the humanitarian crisis arising from the attacks.
He then decried the noticeable slide in factual reportage by the media, who have variously quoted scary figures of deaths arising from the recent attacks by fleeing bandits.
Both the Governor and the two Emirs called on online newspapers (excluding The DEFENDER) and the social media to always verify facts before going to press, instead of scaring the public with overblown or twisted, sometimes untrue reports, for whatever reason
The Governor Matawalle said: “It is also obvious that my administration is not only threatened by bandits in the bush but also political bandits in our towns and villages.
“These are those politicians who manipulate the crisis for political gains and the informants who aid the bandits in their nefarious activities. But we shall conquer all by the strength of the Almighty Allah,” he assured.
The Shattiman Sokoto then announced that the state government would, henceforth, treat those who report deliberate lies about bandits escapades as terrorists as well.
“We cannot fold our arms and allow people to always create panick and paint gorier picture of actual happenings in the state. We are faced with a big trial which we are doing our best to address.
“There is no justification for anyone to wish us deeper trouble than where our people are today”, Governor Matawalle warned.
Other photographs from the visit bellow:
