From Maiharaji Altine Gusau
A coalition of Civil Soceity Organizations have commended Governor Bello Mattawalle of Zamfara state for asking the people of the state to bear arms for self defence.
The Organizations who were in Maradun, the hometown of Governor Bello Mattawale for Sallah homage to the Governor expressed satisfaction with the security arrangements put in place by the Governor to end banditry activities in the state particularly the recent pronouncement of bearing arms for self defence.
The leader of the Organizations Adamu Kwatarkwashi said they were in Maradun town, the country home of the Governor to express their support for the security policies introduced by his government.
“We are solidly behind the security policies you have introduced recently, as the killing of people has reached it’s climax”.
Kwatarkwashi said, for the several years, the federal government has failed to take appropriate measures to end the killings in Zamfara state and other states in the North West.
“We are in total support of your call to the people of the state to carry arms and defend themselves because the situation is getting out of control”.
“We know the steps you have taken in the past and the ones you are currently taking to end banditry activities but the situation defied solution”.
“Since the security operatives could not properly protect the wanton killings of innocent people, there is the need for the good people of the state to also carry arms and squarely face the bandits”.
Responding, Governor Bello Matawalle commended the organisations for their support and cooperation to his administration and assured them that he would use all necessary measures to bring an end to banditry.
Matawalle expressed disgust that despite several measures his administration has taken to end banditry, the situation was still persisting.
“We started dialogue with the bandits, we closed markets and sales of petroleum and also, shutdown telecoms networks but all these never work”.
“That is why as a Governor who have no absolute control of the army, police and other security agents I ask the residents to take arms to defend themselves against bandits”.
For effective utilisation of security operatives, Matawalle advocated for the extension of retirement age of Army, a Police and other security officers to 70 years.
Matawalle stressed that, if the Federal government could extend the retirement age of medical doctors, University lecturers and Judges it was also good to extend similar gesture to the security officers.
He lamented, that majority of security personnel were retiring at a level when their services were most needed.
He said, “The Federal government needs to look at the age of retirement for army, police and other security officers with a view to extending it to 70 years like those in judiciary, academics and medical line”.
