The Zamfara State Government has urged residents of the state to defend themselves against bandit attacks but ensure they do not break the law.
Gistlover reports that this was made known in a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Magaji Dosara on Wednesday.
He said: “People must not take laws into their hands, but should take due legal process in protecting their respective communities when attacked by any group of hoodlums.
“The state government has accepted people in the bandits vulnerable areas in the state to come out enmasse to defend themselves whenever bandits attack their community.”
Dosara also stated that the police have apprehended 35 criminals “comprising mostly kidnappers, informants and those aiding and abetting banditry in the state.”
The criminals “have since been interrogated and have confessed to their various crimes and have already been transferred to Abuja for further action before prosecution.”
“Government therefore seriously warn bandits to renounce the criminality and embrace the state government dialogue and peace initiative to become good citizens, stressing the government intention to take punitive measures against criminals, as a matter of urgency,” the statement said.
“The state government also strongly warn traditional rulers to keep vigil eyes to landlords who give out their houses to people with suspicious character within their domains, as government will soon start to arrest any landlord found giving out his or her property on rent to bandits, kidnappers, informants and dealers of weapons for the bandits.
“Government will not hesitate to demolish any house given out on rent to criminals.”
