Zamfara State governor signs new bill punishing banditry with death penalty into law

GOVERNOR Bello Mohammed Matawalle of Zamfara State has signed a new bill into law punishing armed banditry and kidnapping with the death penalty as part of an attempt to combat the growing insecurity across the state.

Over recent years, Zamfara State has been plagued by the activities of heavily-armed bandits who have held the area to ransom. They ransack local villages and kidnap people willy nilly, forcing their families to cough up huge sums as ransom fees and the overwhelmed security forces just look on helplessly.

Last year, Islamic cleric Sheikh Abubakar Gumi visited these bandits in the Zamfara forests and afterwards asked the government to grant them an amnesty. However, no settlement has been reached and their murderous activities continue, prompting Governor Matawalle to ask local citizens to arm themselves and fight back.

Stepping things up, Governor Matawalle approved a law offering the death penalty to those convicted for banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and cultism across the state. This bill was passed by the Zamfara State House of Assembly prohibiting and punishing terrorists, cattle rustling, cultism, kidnapping and other incidental offences.

Governor Matawalle noted that under the law, anyone found guilty of aiding or abetting the crimes mentioned was liable to life imprisonment, 20  imprisonment or 10 years imprisonment without the option of a fine. He insisted that his administration was much more ready to battle the criminal elements in the state within the ambit of the law and restore peace, especially in communities considered as bandits’ hub

“The new law provides that any person found guilty of banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, cultism or being an informant to the bandits is liable to death penalty. Under the law, anyone found guilty of aiding and or abetting the crimes mentioned is liable to life imprisonment, 20 years imprisonment or 10 years imprisonment without option of fine," Governor Matawalle added.

He pointed out that the most fundamental focus of governance anywhere in the world is security. Governor Matawalle noted that the establishment of community protection guards was not different from the Civilian Joint Task Force in Borno State and Amotekun in the southwest geo-political zone.

While commending the Zamfara State House of Assembly for keeping up with their constitutional responsibility of making laws to secure the state, the governor also lauded the federal government for its consistent support. Hon Nasiru Magarya, the speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, said that the law will serve as a legal instrument for prosecuting banditry-related offenders in the state.