From Maiharaji Altine Gusau
The Former Chairman, Maradun local government area of Zamfara state, Alhaji Ahmed Abubakar Maradun has accused Governor Bello Matawalle of supplying vehicles to bandits.
Speaking to Analyzer on phone which was recorded, Abubakar Maradun said, Governor Matawalle had purchased and gave to bandits Hilux vehicles which they now use to attach innocent people of the state.
According to Abubakar Maradun, the bandits who attacked and killed 10 people in Janbako Community used three of the vehicles during the attack where he said “One of the vehicles was abandoned by the bandits due to mechanical fault”.
“They went to that village with two of the Hilux vehicles given to them by Zamfara state Government.
“One of the vehicles broke down and was abandoned by the bandits”. He said.
According to him, “The abandoned vehicle was carrying three AK 47 rifles and some live ammunitions.
“These bandits have been using the vehicles to kidnap, kill and rape innocent people and the press are silent”. Said Abubakar.
He stressed that, the bandits have also killed three soldiers including a Major, but it was not reported by the media.
Abubakar Maradun strongly condemned journalists in the state for not reporting the issue, accusing them of conniving with the state government.
In a sharp reaction, the Special Adviser to Governor Bello Matawalle on Media and Publicity, Alhaji Zailani Baffa said,
“This is a wicked allegation and simply a figment of the writers imagination or an intended machination to discredit the administration of His Excellency Governor Bello Muhammad and undermine the peace effort rt in the state”.
Baffa who was reacting to a news report by online paper said,” The attention of Zamfara state Government has been drawn to a story where the Medium alleged that His Excellency Governor Bello Mohammed (Matawallen Maradun) has given 15 Hilux vans and ‘millions of naira’ to repentant bandits who in turn, are now using the same vehicles to attack innocent communities in the state”.
“As the ethics of journalism provides, allegation such as this requires balancing from the accused before publication”.
“However, either due to carelessness, Quackery or sheer mischief, the medium went ahead to publish this story, obviously sourced from the enemies of peace in the state without balancing from the side of the Government”.
“To disabuse the minds of those law abiding and patriotic Nigerians, Governor Bello Mohammed used from the meager resources of the state Government to purchase 200 Hilux vans in support of Security operatives in the state”.
These vehicles were duly distributed to all security agencies in the state under the supervision of the Inspector-General of the Nigeria Police” .
The beneficiaries included the Military, the Police, the Customs and Excise, the Immigration Services, the NDLEA, the NSCDC, the FRSC, among others”. Concluded Baffa.
