Zamfara Committee: N3bn ransom collected by Bandits

The Zamfara State set up committee by Gov. Bello Matawalle to find a lasting solution to banditry in the state has disclosed that over N3 billion was collected by bandits as ransom from relations of abducted victims in the state. The
Chairman of the committee, former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, made this known while presenting the committee’s report to the governor on Friday in Gusau.

Abubakar  said that the report covered the period from June 2011 to May 29, 2019 with money collected from 3,672 victims’ relatives to secure freedom.

Abubakar said 4,983 were widowed, 25,050 orphaned and 190,340 persons displaced by banditry over the period of time.

The former IGP also said that innocent Fulani herdsmen lost 2,015 cattle, 141 sheep and goats, 2,600 donkeys and camels to rustlers while 147,800 vehicles, motorcycles and others were burnt at different times and locations within the period.

He further said, to achieve a sustainable peace, the state government should take over all farmlands situated on grazing routes and adopt modern livestock farming to encourage herders remain in one place.

And that the committee had recommended unconditional disarmament and setting up of a judicial commission of inquiry backed by law to address all forms of banditry in the future.

The committee also advised the government to partner neighboring states  to rehabilitate all interstate roads, to ease movement of security men and the general public.

He therefore said the state government must give priority to education and ensure that all children including those of nomads attend school.

Govovernor Matawalle promised to implement the recommendations, assuring that he would not be diverted by any sentiment.