Notorious bandit group led by one Auwalun Daudawa has accepted Governor Bello Matawalle’s peace initiative, renouncing banditry in Zamfara State.
The governor’s Special adviser, Zailani Bappa, who disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, said the repentant bandits surrendered 20 AK47 rifles.
According to him, 1 Rocket Propelled Machine Gun, RPG, 1 Anti- Aircraft Riffle, 1 GPM and 27 magazines were surrendered by the bandits to the Governor who handed them over to the State Police Command.
Mr Bappa revealed that the former bandit and his team swore with the Holy Quran to turn a new leaf and never return to banditry.
The statement said: “In a brief ceremony at the premises of the Governor’s office this evening, Auwalun Daudawa handed over the weapons and also, along with his teammates, swore with the Holy Quran not to revert to his old ways.”
The advisor claimed that the former bandits insisted they did not surrender his weapons out of fear, but did so because he and his team wanted to change their ways.
“Auwalun Daudawa said he was not surrendering his weapons out of fear of anything but for the belief that Governor Matawalle is sincere in his peace deal and that he and his team are tired of their old ways.”
“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 society,” the statement said.
The repentant bandits, therefore, promised not to go back to his former ways, and appealed to the Governor to grant him access to continue his education in Gusau.
The statement also quoted the governor as commending the courage of Auwalun Daudawa for embracing the peace initiative along with all his team.
Mr Matawalle, “promised that his administration will never renege on its promise to honor all the terms agreed in the peace deal, and will continue to woo others in the bush until there are no more bandits remaining in the state.”
