Zamfara Government Asks Citizens To Obtain Guns For Self-Defence Against Terrorists
Governor of Zamfara state, Mohammed Matawalle has directed residents of the state including farmers to acquire weapons to defend themselves against the activities of terrorists and gunmen in the state. Following up on this, the state governor has ordered the commissioner of police for the state DSP Ayuba Elkana to issue licences to residents of the state who are willing and qualified to acquire guns. This the government states is in response to the increasing cases of terrorist attacks on the state.
The state governor in a statement issued through the state commissioner for information, Alhaji Ibrahim Magaji Dosara noted that the government has already concluded arrangements to distribute 500 forms to each of the 19 emirates in the state for those willing to obtain self-defence weapons. Residents of the state willing to own guns must however go through the state commissioner of police, this is to ensure that the activities of the interested residents are collected and monitored.
In a bid to contain security issues in the state, the governor ordered the recruitment of an additional 200 individuals for the Community Protection Guards (CPS) in each of the 19 emirates of the state making it a total of 500 CPS operatives for each emirate inorder to increase security manpower in the fight against terrorism.
The governor also approved the closure of all markets and filling stations and as well banned the activities of motorcycle operators in Mada, Wonaka, and Ruwan Bore districts as well as Yandoto emirate in Gusau and Tsafe local government areas of the state. The statement issued by the government of the state directs security agencies in the districts where motorcycle operations have been banned to shoot at sight anyone found violating the ban as such a person is considered as a bandit.
The government of the state also directed security operatives in the state including the Military, the Nigerian Police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to mobilize their force and take the fight to the criminal enclaves in the state.
The governor restated that the security measures taken up by the state government was in reiteration to the persistent terrorist attacks, kidnappings and ransom levies on innocent communities in the state. The state government also said it is committed to ensuring the safety of lives and properties in Zamfara state.