From Maiharaji Altine Gusau
Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has appealed to the United Kingdom to support his Administration’s efforts to end banditry and other criminal activities in the State.
The Governor also urged UK to continue to sustain its cooperation with the federal Government of Nigeria and other state Governments in the fight against insurgency and other security breaches in the country.
Governor Bello Matawalle made the appeal on Wednesday while receiving a delegation from the UK High Commission in Nigeria led by the Head of Governance, conflict and Social Development of British High Commission, Abuja, Mr. Sam Weldock, who was in Zamfara state on a high level security meeting.
The Governor briefed the delegation on the security challenges bedevilling the state and his Administration’s committment to restore the lost glory of the state as the most peaceful state.
He said his model of dealing with the security challenges included a combination of negotiation with bandits and use of kinetic power.
The Governor explained that the security challenges he inherited had posed a great deficit in achieving the desired goals, adding that “the security breach has virtually affected every sector of the socio- economic activities of the state”.
Governor Matawalle said the action taken by his administration had brought about relative peace.
He pointed out that in order to bring sanity and prevent escalation of lawlessness in the state, just yesterday, he approved an immediate declaration of proclamation on the entire State.
He said this emanated from the ‘shoot on sight” order by President Muhammadu Buhari on anybody found in possession of guns unlawfully.
The Governor who commended the UK Government for its support on security and general well being of Zamfara State and Nigeria in general, said, ‘There is no country in a better position to support the state than the UK considering its position in the area of security”.
Matawalle thanked the UK Government for all it has been doing in terms of support and cooperation to the State and Nigeria as a whole.
In his remarks, the Head of Governance, Conflict and Social Development of the British High Commission, Abuja, Mr. Sam Weldock said they were in Zamfara to extend more support to the State, and other North-Western States of the country on Security in the region for peace and tranquility to return to the region.
He explained that, the UK Government was worried about the security challenges, adding that his Country would support Zamfara State to overcome many of its problems.
