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Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, has said his administration is no longer interested in holding dialogue with bandits, noting that they had spurned the olive branch once extended to them.
The governor, who stated this in Gusau, the state capital one Saturday, said that rather than grant amnesty to bandits, security forces would flush them out of the state.
“My administration will no longer grant amnesty to bandits as they have failed to embrace the peace initiative earlier extended to them,’’ the governor said.
He urged residents to be patient and to support new security measures put in place to flush out bandits and their collaborators in order to restore peace in the state.
The governor said the barrage of attacks on bandits by security forces had made them to make a fresh overture to government seeking dialogue.
He said the bandits’ emissaries informed him that they had repented and would want to dialogue with government.
Matawalle noted that some of the bandits were running out of Zamfara to other states as a result of the new security measures introduced by the state government.
He warned politicians against giving any form of support to bandits, stressing that “politicians should fear God and stop buying motorcycles to distribute to people who, in turn, sell to bandits to perpetuate their evil acts.’’
The governor also said that his administration would prosecute any politician caught in the act.
Meanwhile, commercial activities in the state have been halted following the two weeks suspension of telecommunication networks by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC).
All banking services, mobile telephone services, internet and other related services have also been suspended.
In a related development, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ayuba Elkanah, announced the suspension of movement of motorcycles with clutches in 13 local government areas of the state.
Speaking with newsmen, Elkanah urged members of the public to continue to support security agencies by giving them vital information that would assist in fighting crimes and criminals in the state.
“In a bid to achieve this aim, additional measures have been put in place.
“Riding of motorcycles that have clutches have been banned in 13 local government areas of the state, in addition to the earlier enforcement of restrictions on motorcycles and tricycles in Gusau Local Government Area.
“Damba and Mada are equally affected in the ban on riding motorcycles with clutches,’’ Elkanah said.
The police boss said they had authoritative information that some unscrupulous elements use the vehicles, especially Golf III cars and Canter trucks, to supply petroleum products and food items to bandits camps,
Elkanah enjoined residents to bear with the security agencies because the measures put in place are Temporary and in the best interest of the state.
“We urge residents to remain law-abiding and to collaborate with security agencies in ensuring that peace and security is restored in the state,’’he said.
(NAN)