Zamfara govt okays guns for citizens against bandits

Bedeviled with the seemingly endless killings by bandits in Zamfara state, the government has okayed possession of guns for its citizens to defend themselves.

The state Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Dosara, in a statement on Sunday described the escalating banditry activities in the state as a source of worry and concern.

He said the government directed citizens to obtain guns as the last resort.

“Government has henceforth, directed individuals to prepare and obtain guns to defend themselves against the bandits, as the government has directed the state commissioner of police to issue a license to all those who qualify and are wishing to obtain such guns to defend themselves.”

According to the commissioner, Government is ready to facilitate people, especially farmers to secure basic weapons for defending themselves.

Dosara added that the government has already concluded arrangements to distribute 500 forms to each of the 19 Emirates in the state for those willing to obtain guns to defend themselves.

“People must apply from the Commissioner of Police, license to own guns and such other basic weapons to be used in defending themselves,” Mr Dosara declared.

The Commissioner also disclosed that a designated center will be created for receiving intelligence information about the activities of informants in the state.

He also warned that any information on informants must be correct as the government will serve the same punishment on an informant who provides false information to the center.

Mr Dosara said that the government has requested Zamfara State House of Assembly to accelerate the process of passing the “informants bill” before it enables the government to take drastic measures on informants as contained in the bill.

He announced the recruitment of 200 additional Community Protection Guards in each of the 19 emirates of the state and the constitution of some committees and a special paramilitary unit with a retired Police Commissioner, Mamman Anka as Commandant-General to deal with bandits in the state.

According to him, the committees constituted to include a special committee to receive intelligence on the activities of informants to be headed by the Secretary to the state government, Kabiru Balarabe, and a committee on the prosecution of banditry-related offences to be chaired by APC chieftain in the state, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi.

The Commissioner also announced the closure of some markets and filling stations as well as restrictions of movement in Gusau and Tsafe local government areas.

He said the government has equally banned motorbikes and the selling of petroleum products in Mada, Wonaka and Ruwan Bore districts, as well as Yandoto emirate, as all filling stations in the affected areas are closed with immediate effect.

“Anybody found riding a motorbike within the areas is considered a bandit and security agencies are thereby directed to shoot such persons at sight”, Mr Dosara warned.