Nigeria

After deploying 6,000 soldiers to Zamfara, Buhari gives ultimatum to bandits

Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at 9:31 AM by Onyirioha Nnamdi

- Bandits in Zamfara have until May 2021 to surrender themselves to the state government

- This ultimatum was given by President Muhammadu Buhari, according to Governor Bello Matawalle

- Matawalle said the state has offered to strike a peace initiative with the armed criminals who are expected to lay down their weapons

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According to Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara, President Muhammadu Buhari has given armed criminals in the north an ultimatum to drop their weapons and surrender themselves to state governments.

Governor Matawalle made this revelation on Tuesday, March 9, during a live broadcast, Daily Trust reports.

The governor said this is part of the resolutions of the presidency made known to him by President Buhari in his recent meeting with him.

After deploying 6,000 soldiers to Zamfara, Buhari gives ultimatum to bandits — President Buhari said the armed bandits in Zamfara have until May 2021 to surrender their weapons (Photo: @MBuhari)
Source: Twitter

Matawalle explained that the two-month grace given to bandits is to allow them to surrender their weapons and key into peace initiatives in the state which according to him, has recorded successes, including the release of hundreds of kidnapped persons.

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Earlier, President Buhari ordered the immediate deployment of 6000 troops to Zamfara to help in fighting banditry which has ravaged the states for months.

Governor Matawalle made the announcement in a broadcast to residents of the state on Tuesday.

The president was quoted to have said:

“In the fall out my discussion with President Muhammadu Buhari and the security higher commands in Abuja, it was resolved that 6000 additional troops will be deployed to the state.”

Before this, Matawalle had aligned himself with the no-fly zone order of the president over the state due to rampant cases of kidnapping.

Governor Matawalle on Wednesday, March 3, stated that he has no problem with the order because its core objective is to secure the state from more attacks by bandits.

Moreover, the governor stated that he supports the ban on mining in Zamfara but made the clarification that illegal activities in this regard have been before the problem of banditry arose.