Zamfara to pardon 100 Fulani jailed for banditry

Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara, says he will pardon a hundred Fulani people who are imprisoned in Gusau, the state capital, for banditry.

Zailani Bappa, senior special assistant to the governor on media, quoted Matawalle as saying this when he received representatives of the Fulani community in Zamfara.

The governor lamented that the Fulani “are now termed as terrorists worse than Boko Haram”.

According to him, granting pardon to them is part of an ongoing peace process in the state.

“I am one of you and I know you are not terrorists,” he said.

“What is happening today has a cause and we are determined to address it with your cooperation.”

Matawalle urged the Fulani delegation to disregard stories about the government’s alleged insincerity with the peace process in the state; saying north-west governors have all agreed to ban vigilante groups set up to check banditry in the region.

“You can see now; you are here not only in Gusau, but the Government House,” the governor said.

“Nobody will arrest you or harm you. Our aim is to have lasting peace in our dear state.”

Speaking on behalf of the Fulani community in Zamfara, Baba Bello said all known bandits “will listen to the new sermon and surrender their weapons because they will listen to them”.

Bello said they would adhere to the new pact and ensure that Zamfara has “lasting peace”.