Governor Bello Matawalle on Wednesday expressed worries that bandits were gradually returning to Zamfara, alleging that politicians recruit indigenes as informants.

Zailani Bappa, a media aide to the governor, stated in Gusau that Mr Matawalle had noted the gradual return of bandits and kidnappers to the state.

“Strong facts indicate that the recurrence of banditry in the state is aided and abetted mostly by powerful indigenes.

“Some of these people are strong personalities who the people respect.

“There are also, among the generality of the people who receive paltry sums of money to serve as informants to bandits,’’ Mr Bappa quoted the governor as saying.

He added that it was based on suspicion that the governor directed those taking political appointments to swear by the Quran while taking oath of office.

He noted that some top politicians in the state declined to use the Quran, just as some refused to swear by the book.

Mr Matawalle also noted that swearing by the Quran remained the only way to distance oneself from banditry and kidnapping.

The governor explained that government and security forces had been able to reduce banditry and kidnapping despite multiple challenges.

The governor assured that the security forces employed new strategies to contain the trend.

“They want people to revolt against the state and the Federal Government.

“They will not succeed. Success is ours by the grace of God, the Almighty,” Mr Matawalle was also quoted as saying.

Troops have secured the release of 700 kidnap victims, mostly women and children, according to the Zamfara government. 

(NAN)