No fewer than seven hardened bandits in Zamfara State have renounced banditry and embraced the peace accord instituted by Governor Bello Matawalle’s administration in the state.
The governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Zailani Bappa, disclosed this in a statement sent to DAILY NIGERIAN on Thursday.
According to Mr Bappa, the repentant bandits also surrendered 14 dangerous weapons, the smallest among them being the popular AK 47.
“They publicly surrendered the weapons to Governor Bello Mohammed at the Government House today,” he stressed.
Quoting the state Commissioner for Security Affairs, Abubakar Dauran, who presented them to Governor Matawalle, the Special Adviser said the repentant bandits said they willingly took the decision and would accept to be re-integrated into society.
“Governor Matawalle accepted their resolve as they took an oath with the Holy Quran not to either go back to their past ways or become informants for their former colleagues who are yet to key into the peace process.
“Governor Matawalle promised to continue with the peace process in the state employing the carrot and stick approach towards a successful end to the menace in the state,” Mr Bappa stressed.
He said the repentant bandits were received in the presence of some traditional rulers in the state and a number of Islamic clerics who took turns to give them words of advice.
Mr Bappa added that the recovered weapons were handed over to the State Police Command.
