The Zamfara state Governor, Bello Matawalle has approved the death penalty for kidnappers, bandits, cattle rustlers, cultists,s, and informants who are found guilty by a court of law in the state. The governor made this known yesterday while briefing the people of the state in a wake of insecurity that has continued unabated. The Governor said the decision was an outcome of the state Security Council decision that was taken collectively. In his statement, “On the 28th of June this year, I passed the bill on Prohibition and Punishment for Banditry, Cattle Rustling, Cultism, Kidnapping, and Other Incidental Offences, 2022.
He explained, “The law provides a legal instrument for prosecuting banditry-related offenders.
“Based on the new law, anyone found guilty of banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, cultism, or serving as a bandits’ informant is subject to the death penalty.
“Similarly, anyone found guilty of supporting in any manner the aforementioned offenses faces a sentence of life in prison, 20 years in jail, or 10 years in prison, without the option of a fine.”
According to the governor, his administration would not relent in its effort to secure Zamfara state and its citizens from the clutch of criminals that have continued to give the law-abiding citizen a sleepless night.
The governor condemned in totality especially the activities of the informant, saying they are the worst egg in the cycle of violence as they are the people whose activities are more threatening as they live and work with their would-be victims.
The Governor tasked the security task force to launch a house-to-house manhunt to flush out the criminal element amongst the populace with the mandate of the state Governor.
The Governor called on the citizenry to corporate with security agencies by way of reporting suspicious people and their activities to the nearby security.
More so, he reiterated the order banning motorbike movement at the outskirt of Gusau town from 9 pm to down, calling on security to shoot at sight any person found violating this order.
To the Hotel operators in the state, the Governor called on them to properly scrutinize guests patronizing them by demanding valid means of identification before accommodating them.
“Any hotelier found violating the new order will have his hotel shut down and face prosecution according to the law,” he warned.
