Confronted with a seemingly helpless situation, Zamfara State Governor, Mohammed Matawalle, has resorted to self-help, directing residents of the state, particularly farmers, to acquire guns to defend themselves against marauding terrorists/bandits.
Matawalle ordered the Commissioner of Police in the state to issue licences to residents willing and fit to bear arms, to protect themselves against the armed criminals.
The governor approved the immediate closure of all markets and some filling stations, and banned the use of motorcycles in Mada, Wonaka and Ruwan Bore districts as well as Yandoto emirate in Gusau and Tsafe local government areas of the state, respectively. He ordered security agents to shoot violators of the ban on sight.
In Benue State, Governor Samuel Ortom said the continued attacks on communities in the state by Fulani herdsmen and killing of innocent people was not because of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, but due to a hidden agenda of the aggressors and the failure of federal government.
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, yesterday granted a 10-day amnesty to bandits operating and hibernating in forests in the state to leave the woods and surrender themselves and their arms to the traditional rulers, or face bombardment if they failed to utilise the window.
Similarly, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, approved the recruitment of additional 500 men into the state’s sector of the regional security outfit, Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), codenamed Amotekun. This was part of the efforts of the administration to enhance security of lives and property in the state.
But in Edo State, gunmen, yesterday morning kidnapped a Catholic Priest, Rev. Father Osia.
Meanwhile, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State disclosed that about 200,000 people displaced in the North-east by the activities of Boko Haram were yet to be returned to the country.
In a related development, the Ansaru terrorists group, reportedly, banned political activities in some communities in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives Union (BEPU) disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Kaduna on Sunday night.
Matawalle, in a statement by his Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Magaji Dosara, said the state government would distribute 500 forms to each of the 19 emirates in the state for those willing to obtain self-defence weapons. He explained that the government had ordered for the recruitment of 200 additional Community Protection Guards (CPG) in each of the 19 emirates to boost their manpower and capacity to tackle banditry and other crimes in the state.
The governor said the government had also approved the formation of additional paramilitary units in order to properly and effectively reinforce the operations of the state’s community protection guards.
The statement said, “Government has henceforth, directed individuals to prepare and obtain guns to defend themselves against the bandits, as government has directed the state Commissioner of Police to issue licences to all those who qualify and are wishing to obtain such guns to defend themselves.
“Government is ready to facilitate people, especially, our farmers, to secure basic weapons for defending themselves. Government has already concluded an arrangement to distribute 500 forms to each of the 19 emirates in the state for those willing to obtain guns to defend themselves.
“People must apply from the Commissioner of Police, license to own guns and such other basic weapons to be used in defending themselves. A secretariat or centre will be established for the collection of intelligence on the activities of informants.
“In addition to this, the government has equally banned riding of motorbikes and selling of petroleum products in Mada, Wonaka and Ruwan Bore districts, as well as Yandoto emirate. Henceforth, all filling stations in the affected areas are hereby closed with immediate effect.
“Anybody found riding a motorbike within the areas is considered as bandits and security agencies are thereby directed to shoot such persons on sight. Security agencies are by this announcement directed to ensure strict compliance.”
The governor reiterated that anyone found violating the order would be dealt with in accordance with the rule of law, warning, however, that government would not condone any acts against innocent people.
He maintained that the security measures taken by the state government were to deal decisively with recent escalating attacks, kidnapping, and criminal levies on innocent communities by terrorists.