Insecurity: Zamfara arrests 100 persons for ‘violating executive order’

The Zamfara state government says it has arrested no fewer than 100 violators of the recent executive order signed by Bello Matawalle, the state governor.

Abdulrasheed Haruna, secretary of the state special taskforce on security, disclosed this on Wednesday in an interview with NAN in Gusau, the Zamfara capital.

Haruna also said vehicles allegedly conveying food, drinks and fuel to bandit camps in the state have been intercepted.

Matawalle had, in August, signed the executive order as part of efforts to tackle insecurity in the state.

The directives issued in the executive order included the suspension of weekly markets, ban on sale of fuel in jerrycans, as well as restrictions on interstate transportation of livestock.

Haruna told NAN that persons alleged to have collaborated with bandits were handed over to security agencies for further investigation, while those with light offences are standing trial before a mobile court established by the taskforce.

According to the governor’s aide, the directives issued in the executive order had limited the supply of food and other essential services to bandits.

“We believe that these have forced the bandits to relocate en masse from the state,” he said.

Haruna further said the taskforce has set up 11 subcommittees to ensure total compliance with the executive order.

On his part, Ibrahim Dosara, commissioner for information, has announced additional measures taken by the state government to address insecurity.

“The state government has closed down Yargaya market of Tudunwada area in Gusau, Kaura Namoda-Jibiya junction, Lambar Bakura junction, Colony-Rini junction and Mayar-Anka junction,” he said.