Sokoto State government begins constructing dam to offer employment to repentant bandits

SOKOTO State government has announced that it is constructing a dam at Kamarawa village to facilitate farming and animal rearing to provide employment for repentant bandits and other reformed criminals.

Over recent years, Sokoto is one of the states that has been plagued with bandits as armed gangs run riot killing innocent citizens with reckless abandon. Retired Col Garba Moyi, the Sokoto State commissioner for career and security matters, explained that Kamarawa is located in Isa, one of the local government areas hardest hit by activities of bandits and other security challenges in the eastern part of the state.

He said groups of bandits, mostly youths had renounced their membership of the various criminal groups following dialogue and resolutions initiated by the state government. Under the rehabilitation programme, insurance firm to pay farmers affected by flood in Sokoto Moyi and some of the repentant persons have begun to take part in farming activities across Sabon Birni, Isa, Goronyo and its environs.

According to the commissioner, the state government had assisted them with farm inputs. He added the measure was a part of government moves to contain banditry and other crimes, stressing that the dialogue had yielded positive results.

He noted that for a long period, there was no case of kidnapping, killing, or other acts of banditry in the state.  According to Col Moyi, all kidnapped victims have been freed by bandits as the last batch of eight regained their freedom three weeks ago.

Col Moyi said 10 cows out of about 500 recovered from cattle rustlers remained unclaimed adding that the rest were handed over to their rightful owners. He said attention was focused on the Tangaza, Gudu, Binji, and Silame axis, where some criminals perpetrated crimes, stressing that such criminals were a group of youths that had no leadership.