‘I’ll share in my people’s pain’, Matawalle cancels trips outside Zamfara

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara has cancelled his trips outside the state during the period of the massive operations launched against bandits.

Last week, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) directed telecommunication companies to disconnect their networks in the state as parts of measures to tackle insecurity.

In an interview with Deutsche Welle radio, the governor said the operation against bandits has yielded tremendous result.

He said bandits are being forced to release people in captivity because they can not feed them due to the blockade of food, fuel and means of communication.

He said people that have spent weeks or months in captivity have returned to their homes and armed gangs are abandoning their motorbikes because they have run out of fuel.

“The Chief of Army Staff was in the state to assess the operations. Troops and the local vigilantes are currently being mobilized to reach to out to the armed criminals in their hideouts inside forests.”

“Aggressive military operation is on going. All their camps would be disbanded one by one and we are recording massive success.

“I’m not going anywhere, I will remain in the state throughout the period of these operations. I must share the pains of disruption of the telecommunication services with the good people of the state.

“As you can see, check points have been mounted after every five kilometres throughout the state so that no criminal will have escape or access route.”

All telecommunications services have been disrupted in Zamfara state to deny bandits and their local collaborators means of communication.

Earlier, the state government had ban fuel sale in Jerry cans, closed all rural filling stations and markets to box the armed men to surrender as part of the stringent measures adopted by authorities to counter the criminals.