Governor Bello Matawalle had in a statement last Friday announced the restriction of fuel sales to the state capital and the headquarters of the local government areas of the state.
Banditry kingpin simply identified as Gudda Turji has warned villagers in Zamfara State against complying with the new measures announced by the state government to tackle the growing activities of bandits.
Governor Bello Matawalle had in a statement last Friday announced the restriction of fuel sales to the state capital and the headquarters of the local government areas of the state.
Matawalle also announced the suspension of all weekly markets across the state.
Similarly, the governor suspended the transportation of livestock to and from the state, saying the transportation of food across the state and outside Zamfara must be verified.
He stressed that the destination of the food must be authenticated otherwise, it would be seized and taken to the orphanage.
The government also banned the use of motorcycles and tricycles from 6pm to 6am in the state, except the state capital which starts from 8pm to 6am every day.
“Furthermore, any tricycle that is covered will be stopped to verify its passengers, otherwise will be apprehended,” the statement read.
“Governor Matawalle reiterated the ban on more than two persons riding a motorcycle and warned that those who break the law stand the risk of being shot at by security operatives.”
The governor urged the people of the state to comply with the measures to avoid unfortunate incidents, saying security operatives would be empowered to treat offenders as suspected bandits.
According to him, the government will set up a committee to ensure compliance in its bid to bring sanity to the communities.
Reacting in a warning sent to some villages in the state, Turji allegedly threatened that anyone who complies with the new measures will pay a heavy price.
Bulama Bukarti, an analyst at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, London, and human rights lawyer who shared the development on Twitter said, “Remember the kidnap kingpin, Gudda Turji, who went on a rampage a couple of months ago when his father was arrested until he was freed?
“He has issued a threat to villages that anyone who complies with the policy closing markets and banning sale of petrol will pay a heavy price.
“It should be clear from experience that residents cannot obey state govts’ until and unless they feel protected. They know that the terrorists can raid at any time and so will be more likely to follow the terrorists’ demand because they are the de facto government of the area.
“If governors want their banning orders to be effective, they must get Buhari to deploy enough security to protect innocent residents. Otherwise, nobody will disobey terrorists that he knows will kill him without any help.”
SaharaReporters had February reported how Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi met with the bandits’ leader in Makkai forest.
Turji had during the meeting lamented that Fulani were being singled out, impoverished, and beaten on the road by indigenes of Zamfara.
Anybody That Comply With The New Measures Taken By Zamfara Gov’t To Tackle Banditry Will Be Dealt With - Bandits’ Leader, Turji
Banditry kingpin identified simply as Gudda Turji has warned villages against complying with the new measures aimed at tackling the growing activities of bandits announced by the Zamfara State Government.
Governor Bello Matawalle had in a statement last Friday announced the restriction of fuel sales to the state capital and the headquarters of the local government areas of the state.
Matawalle also announced the suspension of all weekly markets across the state.
Similarly, the governor suspended the transportation of livestock to and from the state, saying the transportation of food across the state and outside Zamfara must be verified.
He stressed that the destination of the food must be authenticated otherwise, it would be seized and taken to the orphanage.
The new rules further include the banning of riding on motorcycles and tricycles from 6pm to 6am in the state, except the state capital which starts from 8pm to 6am every day.
“Furthermore, any tricycle that is covered will be stopped to verify its passengers, otherwise will be apprehended,” the statement read.
“Governor Matawalle reiterated the ban on more than two persons riding a motorcycle and warned that those who break the law stand the risk of being shot at by security operatives.”
The governor urged the people of the state to comply with the measures to avoid unfortunate incidents, saying security operatives would be empowered to treat offenders as suspected bandits.
According to him, the government will set up a committee to ensure compliance in its bid to bring sanity to the communities.
Reacting in a warning sent to some villages in the state, Turji allegedly threatened that anyone who complies with the new measures will pay a heavy price.
Bulama Bukarti, an analyst at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, London, and human rights lawyer who shared the development on Twitter said, “Remember the kidnap kingpin, Gudda Turji, who went on a rampage a couple of months ago when his father was arrested until he was freed?
“He has issued a threat to villages that anyone who complies with the policy closing markets and banning sale of petrol will pay a heavy price.
“It should be clear from experience that residents cannot obey state govts’ until and unless they feel protected. They know that the terrorists can raid at any time and so will be more likely to fellow the terrorists’ demand because they are the de factor government of the area.
“If governors' want their banning orders to be effective, they must get Buhari to deploy enough security to protect innocent residents. Otherwise, nobody will disobey terrorists that he knows will kill him without any help.”
SaharaReporters had February reported how Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi met with the bandits’ leader in Makkai forest.
Turji had during the meeting lamented that Fulani were being singled out, impoverished and beaten on the road by indigenes of Zamfara.
He added that without reconciliation, there was no way the problem would end, adding that only God knows how many weapons they had and what they could do if they wanted to destabilise the state.
The top commander of the bandits added that they were not afraid to die and that even if he died, hundreds of people were available to take over leadership from him.
Security sources told SaharaReporters that Turji was trained by Buharin Daji, a notorious bandit that was killed by security operatives about three years ago.
Turji took charge of the Shinkafi armed wing of the group after the demise of Daji.
Zamfara, like other North-West states, has in the last 10 years faced devastating attacks from armed bandits.
A committee set up to investigate the menace of armed banditry in the region, headed by Mohammed Abubakar, a former Inspector General of Police, reported that in Zamfara State between June 2011 and May 2019, 4,983 women were widowed; 25,050 children were orphaned; and more than 190,000 people were displaced as a result of banditry.
He added that without reconciliation, there was no way the problem would end, adding that only God knows how many weapons they had and what they could do if they wanted to destabilise the state.
The top commander of the bandits added that they were not afraid to die and that even if he died, hundreds of people were available to take over leadership from him.
Security sources told SaharaReporters that Turji was trained by Buharin Daji, a notorious bandit that was killed by security operatives about three years ago.
Turji took charge of the Shinkafi armed wing of the group after the demise of Daji.
Zamfara, like other North-West states, has in the last 10 years faced devastating attacks from armed bandits.
A committee set up to investigate the menace of armed banditry in the region, headed by Mohammed Abubakar, a former Inspector General of Police, reported that in Zamfara State between June 2011 and May 2019, 4,983 women were widowed; 25,050 children were orphaned; and more than 190,000 people were displaced as a result of banditry.