The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress said it is appalled by the continuous outpouring of comments Governor Dauda Lawal on the security affairs in the state.

Malam Yusuf Idris,
The state APC Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris, in a statement in Gusau on Thursday, described the governor’s comment as uncalled for.

He said, “It is unfortunate for the governor and chief security officer of the state to be saying that he is aware of the movement of every bandits’ kingpin and his gang operating in the state. Very unfortunately, the governor refused to give intelligence report to the security agencies fighting the bandits, day and night. The APC as a party, we don’t know why the governor continues to overlook the issue of insecurity, giving bandits the chance to continue killing and abducting the innocent citizens.’’

According to him, in a recent interview with journalists in the state, the governor, again exposed how his hands were soiled in supporting and harbouring the bandits terrorising the innocent citizens in the state.

He stated, “The governor unequivocally told the media men that he knows all the bandits’ camps operating in Zamfara forests and knows their every movement. Therefore, as the chief security officer of the state, he has consistently refused to take proactive measures against them. But only saying, if he had the authority, he would end banditry in the state within two weeks.’’

The state APC leadership also expressed worry on why the governor had never approached the Federal Government to partner with it in the effort to clear the state of bandits.

“We noticed that at several times, the governor always condemns the Federal government under the APC,” Idris added.

The APC urged Mr Lawal to emulate the former governor, Bello Matawalle’s strategies towards addressing banditry.

He stated, “The APC also recalled that the former governor, Bello Matawalle, during the celebration of his first 100 days in office distributed 200 fully equipped operational vehicles to the security agencies in the state and backed it up with allowances to ease their logistics.

The governor’s statement is a clear acceptance of his government’s failure to protect the lives and property of the citizens against bandits’ attacks. The APC calls on Lawal to concentrate on delivering his campaign promises of ending banditry in two months and stop apportioning blames on anybody.’’

(NAN)