*Defends gun acquisition order, community protection guards
*Thanks President Buhari for constant support towards ending banditry in Zamfara State
By IBRAHIM KANOMA, Gusau
Governor of Zamfara State, Hon. Mohammed Bello Matawalle, has signed into law, a bill prohibiting and punishing Banditry, Cattle Rustling, Cultism, Kidnapping and Other Incidental Offences 2022.
The bill was signed into law on Tuesday June 28, 2022.
The purpose of the law is to ensure that Zamfara State is protected from the crimes of banditry and other associated crimes listed in the bill as passed by Zamfara State House of Assembly.
Governor Bello Matawalle, while assenting to the bill, said this was part of the series of his administration’s determined efforts to address the nagging challenges of banditry and associated crimes in the state.
He explained that the new law provides that any person found guilty of banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, cultism or being an informant to the bandits is liable to death as penalty.
“Similarly, the Governor said under the law, anyone found guilty of aiding and or abetting the crimes mentioned is liable to life imprisonment, twenty years imprisonment or ten years imprisonment without options of fine.”
Governor Matawalle maintained that the most fundamental focus of governance anywhere in the world is security, stressing that, in this regard, his administration was determined to go to any length within the precincts of the law in order to secure the state, restore peace in the communities and place the state on a sound and enduring development trajectory.
He said Zamfara State under his watch would continue to explore all possible remedies to the current plight of people of the state.
He called on those making insinuations about the decision to support the right of community members to self defence against ruthless attacks by bandits to take into consideration the scale of the problem facing the state.
Continuing he said the critics should take into account the plight of the innocent people, who are maimed, killed and kidnapped on a daily basis in various parts of the state.
The Governor also opined that the establishment of community protection guards is not different from the establishment of the Civilian Joint Taskforce (JTF), done in Borno State and Amotekun in the South West subregions.
While commending the state House of Assembly for keeping up with their constitutional responsibility of making laws to secure the state, the Governor also thanked the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari for its consistent support and cooperation to Zamfara State in achieving the desired end to banditry in the state.
In a statement signed by Jamiu Iliyasu Magaji, the Press Secretary to the Governor, and copy of which was made available to our Correspondent, the Speaker of Zamfara State House of Assembly, Rt Honourable Nasiru Muazu Magarya, also spoke at the signing ceremony.
While presenting the bill to Governor Matawalle for his assent, the Speaker said the law would serve as a legal instrument for prosecuting banditry related offenders in the state.
