Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), come out with a comprehensive plan of action to sustain peace and dialogue initiated in Zamfara towards addressing armed banditry and other criminalities.
The governor made the call when he received a delegation from the Federal Government, led by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, which paid a visit to the state over Sunday’s fire incident at the Tudun Wada Market, Gusau.
According to Matawalle, all conflicts that have ethnic dimension can best be resolved through dialogue.
He said it was the most practical choice which was previously done in the Niger Delta to attain peace and if applied in the current issue of banditry affecting Zamfara and the North-West region, it would be squarely addressed.
He pointed out that while his administration was fighting banditry, it was also rolling out various plans for social intervention programmes for youths, women and those affected by banditry.
He said, “As believers in God, we see the unfortunate incident as a test. Allah subhanahu wata’ala says in the Holy Qur’an, “And certainly, we shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to the patient. Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: “Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.”
The governor informed the delegation that the fire destroyed 63 shops and that he had formed a committee to assess the traders’ losses.
Earlier, Malami commended Matawalle’s security approach, which he noted was recording success.
The minister further announced the Federal Government’s desire to collaborate with the state government to bring succour to the victims of the inferno in addition to the Presidential directive to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs to liaise with the state government to provide immediate assistance to the affected traders.
Punch
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