…says ‘what I saw in Zamfara forests far beyond banditry’
. ‘Bandits demand amnesty to lay down arms’
Renowned Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Ahmed Gummi, has raised the alarm that “what is currently happening in Zamfara is insurgency and not banditry”.
Gummi while briefing Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle at Government House, on Thursday, said the bandits have fully transformed to insurgents as a result of the “inhuman treatment” constantly being meted out to them by the people in the state.
“In most of the bandits and Fulani camps we have visited in Zamfara, I come to understand that what is happening in the state is nothing but an insurgency,” he said.
The cleric stated that most of the bandits he met during his visit to the Zamfara forests were only carrying weapons and attacking people due to the persistent attacks and harassment from the vigilance group in the state known as the Yansakai.
He said most of the bandits he interacted with in the Zamfara forests indicated their readiness to surrender their weapons and embrace peace if only the Yansakai put an end to its operations against them.
Gummi also appealed to governments at all levels to dialogue with the bandits and other insurgents in the country and expressed optimism that “dialogue is the only option to end the menace.”
The cleric commended Governor Matawalle for introducing dialogue with the bandits with a view to bringing the menace to an end, urging other state governors in the North to emulate him.
“Some people are of the view that the bandits should be fought and killed, but what we understand is that majority of them are illiterates who need proper education and enlightenment,” he said.
Gummi noted that the decision taken by the Zamfara State Government to dialogue with the bandits was the best option.
Responding, Governor Matawalle assured that his administration would continue to dialogue with the bandits not minding what his political opponents say.