Governor Bello Matawalle has ordered the task force on security to begin a house-to-house search to flush out criminal elements in the 19 emirates of Zamfara as residents continue to live in the shadow of bandits.

Mr Matawalle issued the directive in a statewide broadcast on Tuesday morning in Gusau after an expanded security council meeting that lasted for more than eight hours.

The governor said the measure was part of an effort to restore law and order and ensure peace in Zamfara and urged the emirs who were part of the security council meeting to be vigilant and report suspicious persons or strange movements in their respective domains to security agents.

Mr Matawalle also announced restrictions on motorcycle movement in communities on the outskirt of Gusau from 9:00 p.m. till dawn.

He directed security operatives to shoot on sight any motorcycle rider who violated the order and refused to stop at security points within the affected areas.

According to him, the measure followed reports of the use of motorcycles by bandits and other criminal elements to commit crimes within the state capital and its environs.

The governor also ordered hotel operators to scrutinise guests by means of valid identification before accommodating them.

“This measure is a part of government’s efforts to tackle insecurity in the state, as government is concern over usage of hotels by terrorists and criminals to perpetrate their heinous activities in the state,” he said. “Any hotelier found violating the new order will have his hotel shut down and face prosecution according to the law. The state government would not take it lightly with any one found disturbing the peace and security of the people.”

Mr Matawalle said the government was committed to protecting the lives and property of the people.

“Security of lives and property of the citizenry is a basic function of government anywhere. My government is doing everything humanly possible in accordance with the laws of the land to ensure the discharge of this responsibility,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, the security council charged security operatives, particularly military and police, to scale up efforts to fight bandits and other criminals in Zamfara.

(NAN)