Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle said President Muhammadu Buhari has given bandits in Zamfara State two months to surrender their weapon.
The Governor, who made the announcement in a recent statewide broadcast, said the President has also ordered deployment of 6000 soldiers to crush the bandits if they fail to surrender their arms.
Governor Matawalle made the announcement few hours after some Traditional Rulers told the service chiefs who arrived on Tuesday to check on the troops that there were over 30,000 bandits with sophisticated weapons in the state.
In his broadcast, the Governor said that he visited the President in Abuja, and briefed him on the current situation in the state.
He said, “In my discussion with President Muhammadu Buhari and the security higher commands in Abuja, it was resolved that 6,000 additional troops will be deployed to complement the effort of other security forces in tackling the security challenges in the state.”
“The troops will soon arrive in the state for their operations and we are grateful to the federal government.”
“The President has agreed to a time frame within which the recalcitrant bandits should surrender their weapons and key into our peace initiative. The peace deal initiated by my administration has recorded successes including the disarmament, securing the release of hundreds of kidnapped persons, reopening of markets and the resumption of other economic activities across the state.”
“Even though we are enjoying relative peace as a result of this dialogue and reconciliation programme, some armed bandits refused to key into the programme and they sustain their attacks on our communities.”
“The government has equally observed that there is sabotage by some unscrupulous elements within and outside the state.” He stated.
The Governor also appealed to traditional rulers and local council administrators to remain in their domains to monitor the movement and/or influx of suspicious characters.