Zamfara: Stay out of Matawalle’s fight against bandits — Gov Dauda Lawal warned

A former Zamfara State deputy governor, Muktari Ahmad Anka, has commended President Tinubu’s fight against banditry and cautioned Governor Dauda Lawal against distracting the efforts of the Minister of State for Defence, Matawalle.

Anka said that he has joined numerous supporters of the federal government in the current offensive against armed bandits in the northwestern states of the country.

This was contained in a press statement personally signed by Anka, who was deputy governor in Zamfara from 2007 to 2011. The statement was made available to journalists in Gusau, the state capital.

While commending President Bola Tinubu’s decision directing the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, to take the fight to the bandits camps throughout the area, Anka cautioned Dauda Lawal, the present state governor, against meddling in the operations.

He noted that this is strictly a matter concerning national security and is effectively being handled by the military in the region.

He said: “Let’s support Matawalle to succeed in coordinating the current onslaught against bandits in the Northwest zone.

“The need for Zamfara people to stay focused in the current fight against armed bandits cannot be overemphasised because just as the federal government is doing its best to bring lasting peace to our state and region, as a people, we also need to come out in support of the effort.

“This is not the time for political fights, but an opportunity to bring us as leaders to answer the calls of our people in partnering with the federal government to ensure that bandits are completely eliminated from our state and our region.”

He described it as a good thing and a sign of success that the immediate past governor, Matawalle, is now a minister in the nation’s Ministry of Defence and is incidentally the one handling the operation.

Anka urged citizens to give their complete support for him to effectively earn the federal government’s confidence and make the Zamfara people proud of their ambassador in the Federal Executive Council.

He further stated that Tinubu’s administration would be doing its best to rekindle hope and confidence in the people, if these criminals were eradicated and people could move freely to farms, produce enough food to ensure food security and create the needed conducive atmosphere for growth and development.

Zamfara: Stay out of Matawalle’s fight against bandits — Gov Dauda Lawal warned