Zamfara State Governor, Bello Muhammad Matawalle has attributed the armed banditry bedeviling the state and other parts of the country to degradation of moral standards and culture of greediness occasioned by an unfettered thirst of material wealth in the north in particular and country at large.
Speaking at the inauguration of new executives of Arewa Media Writers’ Association, Matawalle maintained that several several literatures written on the security challenges in Zamfara State have linked the armed banditry in the state with presence of vast mineral resources and the attendant activities of artisnal and illegal miners supported by rich both local and international.
Matawalle who was the Guest Speaker at the event pointed out that pastoral raiding which had been in existence from time immemorial, was only a show of bravery and carried out without the use of violence as against the present day criminalities that include raping, killing of women and children, kidnapping, highway robbery and gruesome atrocities among others.
Represented by the state’s commissioner designate, Alhaji Ibrahim Magaji Dosara, Matawalle said leaders of the north should be ready to take responsibility for the present plight for failing to provide a good vision that will chart a progressive course for the region instead of keeping themselves busy struggling for political power and selfish wealth accumulation.
According to him, “on the assumption of office as governor of Zamfara State and having served as Chairman House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Governor Matawalle introduced a peace and dialogue initiative with all fighting groups as a way of addressing the problem which is aside from using military force.
“This effort drastically reduced the criminal activities with over 2000 kidnapped victims regained their freedom and full resumption of business activities through reopening of markets hitherto shut by the immediate past administration.”
He however lamented the reluctance by other banditry affected states to replicate his measures, lack of support by other politicians because of political affiliations and the need for the federal government to fully key into the peace initiative as the bane of the current efforts in the state.
Governor Matawalle was presented with an award as recognition of his peace initiative by the association for his proactiveness in addressing the security issues despite the challenges.
