The window for dialogue is closed, says Zamfara state governor, as he rebuffs entreaties of emissaries from bandits; threatens to arrest and prosecute politicians enabling bandits

Zamfara State Government will no longer dialogue or negotiate with bandits, being that they rejected the olive branch which the government had earlier extended to them, according to the state governor, Bello Matawalle.

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Zamfara State Government will no longer dialogue or negotiate with bandits, being that they rejected the olive branch which the government had earlier extended to them

Zamfara State Government will no longer dialogue or negotiate with bandits, being that they rejected the olive branch which the government had earlier extended to them, according to the state governor, Bello Matawalle.

He said in Gusau that instead, security forces would flush the bandits 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, while addressing a congregation.

He urged residents to be patient and to support new security measures put in place to flush out bandits and their collaborators 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.

Mr Matawalle warned politicians against giving any form of support to bandits

He said the bandits’ emissaries informed him that they had repented and would want to dialogue with government.

Mr Matawalle 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 said also that Zamfara government would prosecute any politician caught in the act.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Zamfara had cut off food, petroleum products supply and other essential commodities from the reach of the bandits in their various camps.

On August 26, the governor signed an Executive Order suspending all weekly markets in Zamfara, banned bicycles and motorcycles from carrying more than one passenger and not more than three passengers in the case of tricycles. The Order is implemented to check the activities of bandits in the state.

Women and children internally displaced by bandits in Zamfara State

The order read in part: “No bicycle, motorcycle or tricycle shall ply any road or run within Zamfara State between 6.30 p.m. and 6 a.m., while in Gusau metropolis, the ban shall be between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

“No firewood or charcoal shall be transported from the bush to any part of Zamfara State by bicycle, motorcycle, tricycle, car, articulated vehicle, lorry, truck or any vehicle by whatever name called.

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