A repentant leader of bandits in Zamfara state identified as Muhammadu Bello has exposed the state commissioner of police, Mr Usman Nagogo, of having a meeting together.
The Herald gathered that Bello explained that they met inside the dreaded Shinkafi forest alongside his motorbike-riding gang for the meeting.
The repentant bandit said he was escorted for the meeting with the police commissioner deep in the forest by about 80 heavily armed bandits on motorbikes, in the presence of the state’s commissioner of Security and Home Affairs, Alhaji Abubakar Dauran.
According to him, “When they came to pass a message of peace and tranquility to me, my armed boys riding about 80 motorbikes advised me not to fall to the ‘trick’ because of existing mistrust between us and the security operatives at the time.
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“I told the boys that I was prepared to accept the peace offer even if it was a trick because we were tired of the situation. We wanted the carnage to stop and since a road map to peace was being developed, let us participate to bring back the much needed peace to the state.
“We came to realise that the government officials did not come along with any arms while meeting my armed men inside the forest for the peace mission. This demonstration of sincerity led to the fruitful discussion that laid the foundation for the return of peace in the state.”
Earlier, The Herald reported that the Ekiti state governor, Kayode Fayemi, announced that the south western part of Nigeria has created its own security outfit named ‘Amotekun’ and would commence operation across the zone on Thursday, January 9.
Fayemi who made this announcement on Wednesday, January 1, in his new year message, said the job of Amotekun, created by the six governors of the region, is to complement the country’s security agencies.
He said: “On January 9, 2020, the western Nigeria security network known as ‘Amotekun’ shall commence operations in all the six states in our zone.
“Ekiti is very active in this initiative which will go a long way in securing the people and protecting the state. Since we are not an Island, we are working with neigbouring states to strengthen our security architecture.
”Ekiti remains one of the safest places to live, work and conduct business in Nigeria. ”We must encourage our people to report any strange signal or incident, but we must resist the temptation to resort to self-help at any time.”
The governor, however, noted that it would be difficult for criminals to be totally eradicated from a society, but that their activities could be reduced.