Don’t capture, just shoot bandits, Gov Yari tasks security agents
From Idris Salisu, in Gusau
The Zamfara state Governor Abdulaziz Yari has directed security agents in the state to shoot and kill any person caught with unauthorized firearms like the AK 47.
The Governor gave the order ( in tears) on Friday when he visited the emir of Anka and Chairman Council of Chiefs Alhaji Attahiru Ahmad to condole with the emirate over the killing of over 30 persons by armed bandits in Bawar Daji village of Anka Local Government area of the state.
It was reported that Bawar Daji village under Anka Emirate Council was attacked by the armed bandits on two consecutive days last Tuesday and Wednesday, where they shot and killed over 30 persons.
Yari said the order to shoot at sight and kill anybody in possession of firearms unauthorized by the security agents was also an order from the President and himself as the governor of the state. He added that the government would no longer tolerate watching criminals freely carrying sophisticated weapons and killing innocent people of the state.
“This is an order from the president and from myself as governor of the state. Therefore as government, we cannot continue to fold our arms and watch such criminals, like a parallel government, doing what they want and carrying sophisticated firearms, maiming and killing innocent citizens in our state,” Yari warned.
The governor also directed for the disbandment of five communities within the emirate council area who were found to have been accused of harbouring bandits. He also gave order for the removal of the village and district heads of the affected communities with immediate effect.
Yari also said any person or group found associating with bandits would also not be spared but be treated as the firearms carriers and bandits.
In his response, the Emir of Anka, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmad who expressed shock over what has happened at Bawar Daji within his emirate council area said, there is urgent need for the deployment of more permanent security personnel to protect the lives of people in the area and the state at large.
The emir pointed out that what Zamfara as a whole is experiencing at the moment is not a herdsmen/farmers clashes but an act of armed banditry with the sole aim of attacking innocent people while stealing their cash and other possessions.
The emir who could not hide his emotion also accused the security agents in the state of not fully carrying out their responsibility, stressing that it has been a big slap and a shame for the security agents that, the embarrassment is coming after a week of president’s visit to the state and in spite of the presidential order for the arrest of insecurity, yet the situation has become worse.
The monarch who was visibly seen shedding tears threatened to take Zamfara’s matter of insecurity in the state before the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the OIC, if the security agents refused to be proactive and be committed to carrying out their responsibilities effectively.
“We therefore need more security personnel to the state who are also committed to carrying out their responsibility effectively so that we have peace or else we will forward the matter to the United Nations Security Council and the OIC”, the emir declared.