Zamfara state government has directed people of the state to prepare and obtain guns for self-defense against bandits and shutdown some weekly markets in the State.
This is contained in a statement by the state Commissioner of Information, Ibrahim Dosara on Sunday.
Dosara who lamented and described the escalation of bandits’ activities in the state as a source of worry and concern said, the government had no option but to take the bold steps.
“Government has henceforth, directed individuals to prepare and obtain guns to defend themselves against the bandits, and also directed the state commissioner of police to issue a license to all those who qualify and are wishing to obtain such guns to defend themselves.
“Government is ready to facilitate people, especially our farmers to secure basic weapons for defending themselves. The government has already concluded arrangements to distribute 500 forms to each of the 19 Emirates in the state for those willing to obtain guns to defend themselves”.
“People must apply from the Commissioner of Police, license to own guns and such other basic weapons to be used in defending themselves,” Dosara declared.
The Commissioner also disclosed that a designated center would be created for receiving intelligence information about the activities of informants in the state.
He also warned that any information on such informants must be correct as government would serve the same punishment as informant to anyone who provides false information to the center.
“A secretariat or centre will be established for the collection of intelligence on the activities of informants.
“People are strictly warned and advised to make sure that any information or intelligence about an informant must be true and nothing but the truth, as all information on such informants must carry correct data on the suspects, including their pictures, correct names, address, occupation and witness to testify the genuinty of the information given, as government is taking punitive measures against any one found as informant. Any person who give wrong information against anybody, will be served the same punishment with an informant and will be treated as such,” the Commissioner warned.
Dosara further stated that government had requested Zamfara state House of Assembly to accelerate the process of passing “informants bill” before it to enable government take drastic measures on informants as contained in the bill.
He announced the recruitment of 200 additional Community Protection Guards in each of the 19 emirates of the state and the constitution of some committees and a special paramilitary unit with a retired Police Commissioner, Mamman Anka as Commandant-General to deal with bandits in the state.
The Committees constituted includes a special committee to receive intelligence on the activities of informants to be headed by the Secretary to the state government, Kabiru Balarabe and; committee on prosecution of banditry related offences to be chaired by APC chieftain in the state, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi.
The Commissioner also announced the closure of some markets, filling stations and restrictions of movement in Gusau and Tsafe local government areas.
“His Excellency, Governor Mohammed Matawalle, has approved the immediate closure of all markets and Kara in these districts and Yandoto emirate indefinitely. In addition to this, government has equally banned riding of motorbikes and selling of petroleum products in Mada, Wonaka and Ruwan Bore districts, as well as Yandoto emirate. Henceforth, all filling stations on the affected areas are hereby closed with immediate effect. Anybody found riding motorbike within the areas is considered as bandits and security agencies are thereby directed to shoot such persons at sight,” he ordered.
Abdulrazak Kaura