Zamfara Governor, Bello Matawalle, says banditry was unlikely to end soon, because the aim of those sponsoring it is to damage the image of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“I don’t think this issue of banditry will end very soon because already, some people are behind it.

“Some people are using it and all they need is at least to show Nigerians that both the Federal and Zamfara state governments are not serious about the issue of insecurity, despite the fact that some of them are involved in the crisis of this insecurity.

“But we’re doing our best,” the Zamfara state chief security officer added.

Mr Matawalle stated this while speaking with journalists after meeting with President Buhari in Abuja on Monday. 

Peoples Gazette had reported how over 200 citizens were brutally killed and houses torched in several communities of Zamfara state last week. 

Speaking after the attack, Mr Buhari, in a statement the same week, urged residents in the affected communities to be “patient” while the government finds a solution.

Prior to the 2015 election, Mr Buhari had blamed heightened insecurity on the 16 years misrule of the Peoples Democratic Party, promising to tackle insecurity when elected. 

However since Mr Buhari’s regime took over the reigns of power in 2015, insecurity has escalated and taken a frightening trajectory as bandits, Boko Haram terrorists, unknown gunmen and several criminals continue to murder Nigerians and kidnap for ransom.