Hope for peace in embattled Zamfara

Embattled Zamfara, Nigeria’s Northeast state where more than 2,300 people have been killed in 2019 by bandits is moving to restore peace and hope following a truce reached with bandits who had been granted amnesty.

The state government and security operatives has commenced a dialogue with repentant bandits who turned in their deadly weapons over the last one month.

Some of the repentant bandits in Tsafe Local Government area at the meeting explained why they took up arms against the people of the area, giving harassment and intimidation as key reasons..

At a peace meeting in Tsafe, they explained that they were harassed and intimidated by the police and vigilance groups, locally known as ”Yan Sakai’’.

They said they action of the police and the local vigilance group led them into becoming bandits and kidnappers.

During the meeting at the palace of the Emir of Tsafe, Alhaji Muhammadu Bawa, one of the bandits’ commanders, Hassan Dantawaye, said they were unjustly treated by the government and society.

“We were forced into this, because apart from cattle rustling incidents we faced some years back, we also faced serious harassment and intimidation from security personnel and “Yan sakai’’.

“We cannot go to markets, our children cannot go to school; whenever they see our children or wives in town they killed them.’’

He alleged that they were forced to spend a lot of money to secure bail when arrested by police.

Many times security agencies launch attacks on our homes to kill “us without committing any offence’’.

“With this ugly trend, we have no option than to embark on kidnapping, attacks and others crimes,” Dantawaye said.

Another ex-bandit, Alhaji Madele, thanked the state government for the dialogue and urged the security agencies to protect them from ”Yan sakai and some security personnel who attack them unjustly in markets and towns.

Madele said, “we have agreed to embrace peace and dialogue, we commend the commissioner of police for inviting us for this meeting”.

The repentant bandits’ commanders also promised to release all captives in their custody.

Nobody will be attacked anymore, they pledged, adding that farmers in the area were free to go to their farms without any fear.

The Chairman of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in the area, Alhaji Yahaya Ahmad, assured of total support to the peace initiative.

“As from today, no vigilante group or CJTF member would attack any fulani herder, we will abide by the state government’s directive in this regard.

“Fulani herders are now free to come to Tsafe town and all major towns in this area. They can go to markets and anywhere else they so wish.

“I am giving them the assurance that our members would not attack them any more”, he said.

The state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Usman Nagoggo who chaired the meeting, described the security situation faced by the state in past as unfortunate.

Nagoggo said, “I remember the day I arrived this state as commissioner of police, over 30 persons were killed in Shinkafi local government area.

“After identifying the measures to tackle the problem, the state government came up with the peace and diologue initiative with the warring parties as part of measures to provide lasting solution to the problem.

“We embarked on consultation with Fulani leaders, Civilian JTF, and Vigilante Groups which led to the successes we are recording today.

“From the inception of this diologue to date we have rescued over 300 kidnapped victims from the bandits without payment of ransom,” he said.

He added: “As I always say, most of the extra judicial killings and illegal attacks on communities were as a result of the actions of the outlawed vigilante group of “Yansakai, who were taking the law into their hands.

“Our aim is to have sustainable peace and development in the state, therefore, all stakeholders should cooperate with us in this task.

“I am also reissuing this warning that all activities of “Yansakai are suspended and nobody should take the law into their hands.

“Anybody found violating these directives would face the full wrath of the law”, the Police boss added.

The Emir of Tsafe, Alhaji Muhammadu Bawa thanked the warring parties for attending the meeting and accepting peace.

Bawa said the emirate would continue to support the state government to ensure that the diologue succeeds.

The state governor, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, initated the peace dialogue as part of measures to end banditry, kidnapping and other crimes in the state.

The meeting in Tsafe was attended by repentant bandits’ commanders, members of the CJTF, officials of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and members of the outlawed ”Yansakai local vigilantes.