Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara state, has justified the death penalty approved for anyone convicted of banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, or cultism in the state.
Matawalle, while speaking on Wednesday, September 28, said that the state government has tried several approaches towards curbing banditry in the state, but such measures were not 100 percent successful, The Cable reports.
“God knows I have adopted so many options for this crisis to leave the state, but unfortunately, there are good and bad people in any society,” Matawalle said.
“We’ve tried all we can. I’ve adopted so many options in the state and most of the options have yielded a lot of results.
“I’ve done dialogue. I shut down the network. We cut the food supply and we saw some positive signs, but it’s not 100 percent.
“The bandits fear the Yansakai vigilante group because they use a fabricated weapon. They put motorcycle plugs into it. Bandits fear that weapon because it cuts anyone into two.
“They see Yansakai as the most devilish people on earth. I know why I gave that directive and I’ve succeeded with that directive I’ve given.
“Although death penalty is not a popularly accepted approach globally, I believe it works in Zamfara state.
“Death penalty will work. I have signed it,” he added.
Matawalle, while speaking on the directive for residents of the state to arm themselves, said that bandits deserve no mercy.
“Why I asked every residents of the state to get a weapon is because these bandits are like animals. How can you see someone farming, and then go and kill him?” the governor asked.
“If we say our people should not carry arms, who will go and confront the bandits if not the people? Those who are saying the directive is bad, why can’t they go and save our people?
“As a governor, I can’t fold my arms and see my people being killed every day. It’s not possible.
“It’s one of the primary responsibilities of the governor to protect the lives and property of his people,” he added.
