Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle of Zamafara State on Friday said there are about 30,000 bandits who are operating in six Northern States. They include Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Kaduna and Niger.
He said that going by the sheer number of bandits in the six States, the Federal Government does not have adequate troops to fight them across the region, stating that there are just about 6,000 troops operating across Northwest States.
Governor Matawalle also said that since he took over the mantle of leadership in the State in May 2019, his administration has secured the release of over 2000 victims kidnapped by the bandits.
This, he said, were achieved through dialogue and peace process initiated in the State, adding that over 62 bandits have accepted and embraced peace.
The Governor, who spoke in Kaduna through his Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Ibrahim Magaji Dosara, also said that there are over 100 bandits’ camps across the six States, with each having no fewer than 300 members.
Governor Matawalle said: “They (repentant bandits) are also helping in the identification of the leaders of the recalcitrant bandits, including their camps and location for dialogue and reconciliation. Since the commencement of the dialogue and peace process with the bandits, Zamfara State got free of any attack and kidnapping for almost eight (8) months, until recently when kidnapping and light attacks resurfaced.”
The Governor attributed the inability of the federal government to tackle insecurity in Northwest to shortage of manpower in the security sector and a very poor intelligence network.
“Now tell me, which is the best option for the Governor? To fold his arms to watch his people being killed or to go for dialogue and continue to use the repentant bandits to convince the recalcitrant bandits to save the lives of the governed?” he asked
He explained further that since he took over the leadership of the State he organized for a stakeholders meeting comprising members of the state Assembly, Traditional Rulers, Security Chiefs in the state, Local Council Chairmen, the Council of Ulamas, Fulani and Yansakai leaders, Community and Opinion Leaders, and other critical stakeholders to discuss on the way forward to bring lasting peace in the State.
He said the recent upsurge in attacks and kidnappings are being masterminded by conflict entrepreneurs and informants who connive with the recalcitrant bandits to commit heinous acts.