Zamfara State: Individuals To Defend Themselves With Guns

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State in northwestern Nigeria has in a statement through the Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Dosara directed that individuals living in the state be prepared to obtain guns to defend themselves against the increased activities of bandits which according to the statement have become a source of worry and concern to the people and government of the state.

In the statement, the governor attributed his call for the people of the state to bear arms and defend themselves to the recent escalating attacks, kidnapping, and the criminal levies being enforced on innocent communities by bandits in various parts of the state making it inevitable for such call to action and that in order to deal decisively with the situation, the government has no option than to take the following measures.

The Zamfara state government press release titled “Special Government Announcement” on Sunday highlighted the following as measures and causes of action it would embark on:

1. The government has henceforth, directed individuals to prepare and obtain guns to defend themselves against the bandits, as the government has directed the state commissioner of police to issue licenses 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. The government has already concluded arrangements to distribute 500 forms to each of the 19 Emirates in the state for those willing to obtain guns to defend themselves.
2. People must apply from the Commissioner of Police for a license to own gun(s) and other basic weapons to be used in defending themselves.
3. A secretariat or centre will be established for the collection of intelligence on the activities of informants.
4. people are strictly warned and advised to make sure that any information or intelligence about an informant must be true and nothing but the truth, as all information on such informants, must carry correct data on the suspects, including their pictures, correct names, addresses, occupation and witness to testify the genuity of the information given, as the government is taking punitive measures against anyone found as an informant. Any person who gives wrong information against anybody will be served the same punishment as an informant and will be treated as such.  The government has requested the state House of Assembly to pass, as matter of urgency, the informant’s bill before it, to enable the government to take drastic measures on informants as contained in the bill. The government has ordered the recruitment of 200 additional Community Protection Guards -CPG in each of the 19 emirates of the state, making it 500 per emirate, to increase their manpower and strengthen its force and capacity to deal with the bandits.

To further ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of these measures, as well as the proper implementation of these measures, the Zamfara government has also decided as follows:

1. Formation of a special committee to receive intelligence on the activities of informants.
2. In view of the deteriorating security situation in Mada, Wonaka, and Ruwan Bore Districts of Gusau local government, as well as Yansoto emirate in Tsafe local government area of the state, His Excellency, Governor Mohammed Matawalle MON, Barden Hausa, and Shatiman Sokoto, has approved the immediate closure of all markets and Kara in these districts and Yandoto emirate indefinitely.
3. In addition, the government has equally banned riding motorbikes and selling of petroleum products in Mada, Wonaka and Ruwan Bore districts, as well as Yandoto emirate.

The government statement also directed all filling stations in the affected areas to remain closed with immediate effect adding that anybody found contravening this directive within these areas would be considered bandits and security agencies have therefore been directed to shoot such persons at sight to ensure strict compliance.

While stating that anyone found violating the order would be dealt with according to the rule of law, it however warned that the Zamfara State Government would not condone any act where innocent people are being killed.

Calls were also made to bandits who are yet to honour and respect the peace dialogue to do so as to allow peace within their respective communities.

Governor Matawalle also directed the military, police, civil defence, and other security agencies to mobilize their operatives and take the fight to the enclaves of the criminals with immediate effect the statement reads.

The Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Ayuba Elkana, has however said that the embargo on firearms license is still in force, noting that the police have stopped issuing license to citizens who wished to own guns.

The State police Boss also said that he is yet to receive any directive and that until he sights the directive, then would he consider the next line of action and compliance, he stated.

Asked if the government’s decision was a vote of no confidence in the police, the CP replied, “There is nothing like a vote of no confidence, please. This is a farming season and you cannot get police or any security to be following everybody to the farm. They are attacking people on the farm; that is the problem. It is not as if we are not doing our best; we are doing our best. Of recent, we rescued many people from bandits)” the Police Commissioner said.