Zamfara State Government has declared that its sustained dialogue with gunmen often regarded as bandits was yielding results with more insurgents surrendering their arms and more willing to turn new leaf.
The Commissioner of Security and Home Affairs, Alhaji Abubakar Dauran, stated this on Tuesday during a joint press briefing with the Police at the Police Command Headquarters in Gusau
He said; ‘This has been possible through the peace and dialogue initiative introduced by our governor which led to many bandits surrendering their weapons.
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‘These 20 AK47 rifles were surrendered at once by just one gang of repentant armed bandits and l can tell you, each of these weapons is capable of killing 2,000 persons.
‘This is why the Bello Matawalle-led administration in Zamfara is standing firm on the peace and dialogue initiative which is fast bringing back peace in the state,’ Dauran said.
Also speaking during the press conference, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Yaro Abutu, said the command would continue to support the state government’s peace initiative which he said was yielding positive results.
‘Since my arrival in the state barely three months ago, we have successfully and unconditionally rescued many kidnapped victims and recovered several arms and ammunition from repentant bandits.
‘These are the kinds of results we want to be recording to earn us lasting peace,’ Abutu said.
Also, Auwalu Daudawa, a repentant gang leader who promised never to return to the bush or engage in any form of banditry, appealed to recalcitrant bandits to also embrace the peace initiative and be of good character for their own good and for the betterment of the state.
The repentant six-man gang had on Monday, surrendered 20 guns to the authorities with a promise never to return to crime.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK