When it comes to facing the security challenges in Zamfara State headlong, putting to use varying approaches, I cannot think of any idea not used by His Excellency (Dr) Bello Matawalle.
With the inputs of security stakeholders, he engaged in dialogue which yielded a year long momentary relief from the carnage and the unconditional release of more than a thousand abductees who not only from Zamfara but Katsina, Sokoto and other neighboring states. The dialogue also led to the release of a Korean doctor held in bandits camp and disarmament of many bandits. Despite the positive results many people disagreed with it and worked mischievously to scuttle it.
With the breach of security here and there, Governor Bello Matawalle modified his security strategy using both kinetic and non-kinetic approach figuratively known as carrot and stick model. He donated more than two hundred Hilux vehicles to security operatives in the state to make the strategy operational.
Despite the obvious constitutional limitations of the state government over the military, people clamoured for the drop of anything dialogue. As a leader with listening ears and considering some escalations due to violation of treaty by some bandits who have earlier subscribed to the peace deal, Governor Bello Matawalle dropped it and imposed stringent measures to cut bandits supply lines and communications. Part of the measures taken includes:
1. Closure of weekly markets.
2. No filling station is allowed to sell fuel to people with jerry cans or vehicles with extended tanks beyond N10,000 fuel limit. Refueling within a short span of time is not allowed.
3. No commercial motorcyclist is allowed to carry three people at a time and time of their time of operation was limited to 8:00pm in the state capital and 6:00pm in other locations.
4. Vehicles carrying firewood were banned from operations. Those carrying foodstuff must undergo strict investigation by the task force.
5. Shutting down of telecommunication services in the state.
Some of these measures taken by Matawalle were also replicated in Kaduna, Katsina, Niger and Sokoto.
However, these too were welcomed with lukewarm opinions and even derided and condemned by others for political reasons as too harsh and detrimental to the state economy. With the complaints hitting the skies, Bello Matawalle ordered for reopening of the markets and telecommunication services.
The 'Yan Sakai vigilante groups who were earlier banned from operations because of their rampant extrajudicial killings of suspects in market places were reshuffled and unbanned. (Dr) Bello Matawalle supports them with stipends and vehicles to complement the military operations.
However, even as these measures were taken, some political bigwigs exploited the situation by engaging in covert political Indoctrination of rural populace with the mischievous idea that Matawalle's initial dialogue was meant to favor fulani bandits. Women electorates were scared with such slogans as "Vote for banditry or peace" impliedly to depict Matawalle's government as pro-bandits.
This is how filthy the political card has been played in Zamfara by the enemies of peace. If such people don't deserve a bad name, who else does?
- Ibrahim Bello Zauma
#Bazaume
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