Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has announced the re-opening of select markets which were earlier closed down due to bandit attacks in the state.
A statement on Friday by the governor’s media adviser, Zailani Bappa, said the governor made the announcement during the swearing-in of two Commissioners, 10 Special Advisers, 8 Permanent Secretaries and the newly appointed Auditor-General for the State Government.
According to the statement, the governor’s decision to reopen some of the markets followed an improvement in the security situation in the state in the last month.
Another reason, according to the statement, included concerns of the state government to the hardship the total closure has inflicted on the local economy.
The markets opened include the livestock markets in Gummi, Bagega, Danjibga, Kasuwar Daji, Tsafe, Talata-Mafara and Nasarawar Godel.
Mr Matawalle, therefore, warned that the state government would deal with for any person or groups killing people wantonly in marketplaces.
He said: “Anybody caught breaking this rule will face the appropriate wrath of the law. I, therefore, call on vigilante groups and concerned individuals to follow the rule of law and due process in addressing any issue that might arise in such situations.”
Mr Matawalle further called on traditional rulers and other community leaders to ensure that the new measure is monitored, assuring that more relaxation of the measures would follow in due course.
