Zamfara State Government has said that it has no regrets negotiating with bandits.
A statement on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Alhaji Zailani Baffa, quoted Governor Bello Matawalle as saying, “It is the best option to lasting peace. Reconciliation with the bandits is still the best option.”
The statement read in part, “Matawalle applied the peace accord as a means of honest solution to the problem in Zamfara State which has yielded tremendous result that has never been experienced in the last one year.
“Matawalle observed that despite the heavy presence of the military and relentless offensives against the bandits, the wanton killings and maiming by bandits were still increasing .
“However, our honesty and focus on the reconciliation deal saw the near total drop in bandit attacks which allowed our roads, markets, schools and farms to be reopened.”
Matawalle noted that as a result of the reconciliation with the bandits by his administration, nearly 1,000 persons were released by the ex-bandits and weapons willingly surrendered.
