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A repentant bandit, Auwalun Daudawa, and members of his gang have surrendered 20 AK-47 rifles and other weapons to Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle.
A statement issued by the Special Adviser to Matawalle on Media and Communication, Zailani Bappa, on Monday night, said Daudawa also took an oath with the Holy Quran that he would never go back to the forest.
According to the statement, the bandits decided to surrender themselves because they believe the sincerity of the governor in the peace deal reached with them.
Daudawa added that they surrendered because they were tired of staying in the forest.
“In all the battles and conflicts so far, I have never feared anything nor got wounded even once.
“I thank God that I am liberated by his mercy and I ask for pardon and forgiveness from the society.
“I am no longer interested in going back to the bush,” the statement quoted Daudawa to have said.
The repentant bandit asked Matawalle to allow him stay in Gusau, the state capital and go back to school.
Speaking, the governor commended the courage of Daudawa for embracing peace along with all his team and promised that his administration will never renege on its promise to honour all the terms agreed in the peace deal.
Matawalle also said he will continue to woo others in the bush until there are no more bandits in the state.
He handed over the weapons to the state Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro.