The Zamfara State Government has told the people of the state to defend themselves against bandit attacks, but ensure they do not go against the law.
The Northwestern state is one of the states most affected by banditry in the country.
“People must not take laws into their hands, but should take due to legal process in protecting their respective communities when attacked by any group of hoodlums,” a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Magaji Dosara on Wednesday said.
“The state government has accepted people in the bandits’ vulnerable areas in the state to come out en masse to defend themselves whenever bandits attack their community.”
![[FILES] gunmen. Photo: AA](https://www.afriupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/gunmen-1-1062x598-1.jpg "Gunmen kidnap five students in Nigeria 3")
The statement added that the police have apprehended 35 criminals “comprising mostly kidnappers, informants and those aiding and abetting banditry in the state.”
According to the statement, the criminals “have since been interrogated and have confessed to their various crimes and have already been transferred to Abuja for further action before prosecution.”
It further added that some of the criminals arrested are civil servants.
“Government therefore seriously warns bandits to renounce criminality and embrace the state government dialogue and peace initiative to become good citizens, stressing the government intends to take punitive measures against criminals, as a matter of urgency,” the statement said.
“The state government also strongly warns traditional rulers to keep vigil eyes to landlords who give out their houses to people with suspicious character within their domains, as the government will soon start to arrest any landlord found giving out his or her property on rent to bandits, kidnappers, informants and dealers of weapons for the bandits.
“Government will not hesitate to demolish any house given out on rent to criminals.”
Also, the government announced that it had lifted the ban on commercial activities on four markets in the state.
“The action follows several calls by concerned citizens both within and outside the state, to lift the ban to allow the common man to have access to his basic needs during the holy month of Ramadan. The affected markets are Magami, Wanke, Dansadau, and Dauran,” the statement said.
“The four markets were banned from any activities last week following attacks and killing of innocent people within the affected communities.”
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