In his continuous effort to find lasting solutions to the security challenges in Zamfara, His Excellency the Executive Governor of Zamfara State (Dr.) Bello Mohammed Matawalle MON visited the Chief of Army Staff Nigerian Army Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai at the Army Headquarters, Abuja yesterday.
Addressing the session presided by the Chief of Army Staff, Governor Matawalle said he was at the military headquarters to show appreciation for the military operations and the support by the army in the struggle to bring lasting solutions to the challenges of insecurity in Zamfara State. He added that as a collective responsibility, the state government alone could not take the whole charge having met the state faced by numerous problems. This, he said, was what necessitated his consultations with the security operatives and the leadership of the neighboring states which shared common security challenges with Zamfara.
Governor Matawalle hailed the Nigerian Army for its role and contributions in the fight against banditry and other criminal activities in the state and assured them of his continuous support both in logistics and Intelligence. He appealed to the Army to soften its operations in order to give chance to the peace deal initiated as striding successes have so far been recorded with many abductees released, and the bandits' criminal activities slumping by 90%, adding that in three weeks, no major incident has been reported.
In his response, the COAS Lt Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai congratulated the Governor on his successful ascendency to the position. He pointed out that though the military remains as apolitical as it should be, he has been keenly following the democratic process that led to the Matawalle's emergence as the governor of Zamfara State.
He applauded the Governor for his commitment to security. In his words, "we are glad that you have started very well... in the first few days of your assumption to duty, we have seen the giant stride you have taken in ameliorating the security challenges that have been bedeviling the state." He assured the governor that the military as instrument of state wholeheartedly welcomed the idea of civil approach to the menace of banditry as the use of force by the military has always been the last resort in tackling security issues. He attributed the fall in the rate of bandit criminal activities to the collective effort of the military and the commendable leadership of the State.
He finally appealed to the governor to devise a deradicalization programme for the bandits who have embraced peace and also empower them with self-sustaining means of livelihood to prevent them from going back to the criminal activities.
Ibrahim Bello Zauma
SSA NEW MEDIA
18/07/2019
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