Zamfara govt rejects FG’s peace accord with bandits

By IBRAHIM KANOMA, Gusau

The Zamfara State Government has dissociated itself from the ongoing plans by some suspected group of individuals, claiming to be the agents of peace accord,  initiated by the Federal Government, to negotiate with bandits with a view to addressing the lingering security challenges in the state.

This rejection was contained in a press release signed by the state Commissioner of Information and Culture, Comrade Mannir Mu,azu Haidara Kaura, copy of which was handed to The DEFENDER in Gusau, the state capital, on Saturday.

“We noted with dismayed over the attitudes of some unpatriotic group of people claiming to be assigned by the federal government to go round in some parts of the state and negotiate with bandits as part of the measure to ends banditry activities in the state. The state government described the step as illegal and against the wishes of the state government and entire people of the state.

“Zamfara state government is not party to it and is not supporting the move. In several occasions, His Excellency, Governor Dauda Lawal announced that his government has no plans to negotiate or support any peace accord with bandits operating in Zamfara state and the moved is politically motivated by the enamies of the state with mission to demoralize the plans and commitment of the present administration in fighting banditry and other criminal activities in the state.

“The state government has rejected the so called peace accord initiative with bandits by these group of individuals and call on the general public as well as security agencies to manitor and reject their movement in the state, it is against the wishes of the entire people of Zamfara state and politically constituted to causes mayhem to our security agencies and the present administration of Governor Dauda Lawal’s efforts in tackling the current security challenges in the state.

“The general public is hereby assured that the state government in collaborations with security agencies are on top of the security situations in the state and is working tirelessly to ensure that peace returned to the state and the lives and properties of the entire Zamfara people are protected, issues of banditry has became a history in the state.

“The state government however extended its condolences and sympathy to the victims of the recent banditry attacks at Sakaji and Bilbis villages in Kaura Namoda and Tsafe local governments areas, describing the incidents as unfortunate and would not be allow to continue,” the statement said.