Zamfara hopes violence in the state will cease after 3,000 cattle bandits surrender and hand over their weapons

ZAMFARA State government has revealed that about 3,000 repentant bandits have surrendered their arms and agreed to stop cattle rustling in what is hoped will bring about an end to the ongoing violence in the state.

Of late, Zamfara has been a hotbed if violence as armed criminals have engaged in violent attacks on farming communities, killing hundreds in brutal attacks. It is believed that the attacks are linked to cattle rustling, with local Fulani's stealing livestock from Hausa pastoralists.

In response to the crisis, the Zamfara State government set up a Dialogue, Reconciliation and Disarmament Committee, chaired by deputy governor Alhaji Ibrahim Wakkala. According to the deputy governor, the committee has succeeded in restoring peace and stability among communities in the state.

Speaking in Gusau yesterday at an interactive session with the Governor Dave Umahi-led National Economic Council committee on Farmers/Herdsmen Clashes, said that the bandits have now embraced peace. Governor Umahi's committee was in Zamfara State on a fact-finding mission over insecurity challenges faced by the state where 31 people were killed by hoodlums during a recent attack on some villages.

Alhaji Wakkala said: “With these efforts, our communities are now loving peacefully and cooperating with security agencies in sustaining peace in the state. Economic activities in local communities where people were displaced is now improved and our local markets are now functioning.”

Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji, the speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, said that 1,321 people have been killed and 1,881 others injured in bandits attacks in the state over the last seven years. He added that 185 cars and motorcycles were lost to the attacks during the same period.

In addition, Alhaji Rikiji, who is the chairman of the state government Damage, Assessment and Relief Committee, added that over 10,000 cattle were lost to rustling and 2,688 hectares of farm lands and 10,000 houses were destroyed within the period under review. He said the state government established the committee to ascertain the number of dead and injured persons as well as properties lost to banditry and cattle rustling with the aim of assisting victims.

Governor Abdul’aziz Yari urged the federal government to address the problems of a shortage of security personnel in the state which he described as the major. He said the state, with over 4m people, has only 2,000 policemen, 315 soldiers, 400 mobile policemen and less than 100 air force personnel, which he described as highly inadequate.