Tag: Gov Matawalle

Banditry: Zamfara govt. converts Boarding to Day schools

Aminu Imam

The Zamfara State Government has ordered all boarding schools earlier closed by the government to reopen with immediate effect and be converted to day schools. The State Commissioner for Education, Alh. Aliyu Tukur ES, disclosed this on Thursday in a statement in Gusau, the state capital. Tukur noted that the affected Boarding schools should reopen as Day schools, in order to educate students within their immediate environment. All students from the closed boarding schools were asked to report to the nearest day school in their community to continue with their…

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Zamfara: Matawalle gives 2-month’s ultimatum to bandits

Aminu Imam

Ø  As FG is set to deploy 6,000 soldiers Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle, has issued a two-month ultimatum to unrepentant bandits to key into peace dialogue just as the Federal Government is set to deploy additional 6,000 soldiers to the State. Addressing newsmen yesterday evening during a statewide broadcast, the governor insisted that activities of informants are becoming worrisome in the State. He said the sad episode of Jangebe school girls’ abduction had sent shock-waves to the people of Zamfara State, Nigeria and the entire world. “As a fall…

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Zamfara: Nigerians will be shocked by those behind school girls’ abduction – Gov. Matawalle

Aminu Imam

Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle, has stated that Nigerians will be shocked when they get to know those behind the abduction of the school girls in the State. Matawalle made his statement while receiving 17 Emirs who came to pay him a sympathy visit over the abduction of the schoolgirls at the weekend. “As we await the arrival of the released kidnapped students of GSSS Jangebe at the Government House today, I want to inform you that there are many revelations in relation to the abduction of these students”, he…

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Abducted Jangebe schoolgirls not yet released – Zamfara govt.

Aminu Imam

The students abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, in Talatan-Mafara local government area of Zamfara State, are still with their captors, the state government has clarified reports emerging. Recall that a government official confirmed their release during a television programme earlier yesterday. However, the media aide to Governor Bello Matawalle, Yusuf Idris, said yesterday that efforts were still on-going to secure their release. He made the clarification following media reports that the girls had regained freedom. Idris said the governor had just concluded a meeting with traditional rulers in…

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Zamfara school abduction: Matawalle shuts all boarding schools

Aminu Imam

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara has announced the closure of all boarding schools in the State to prevent activities of insurgents against students. Matawalle made the announcement in a statewide broadcast on Friday, in Gusau, the State capital. The governor said that the decision was sequel to the abduction of 317 students of Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe, in Talatan-Mafara local government area of the State by gunmen in the early hours of Friday. “I, and the entire state government and the citizens are deeply touched by this development…

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Zamfara governor sacks Special Advisers, D-Gs

Aminu Imam

Zamfara State governor, Bello Mohammed Matawalle yesterday sacked all his special advisers and directors-general (D-Gs). The sack, which is with immediate effect, was announced in a statement signed by the secretary to the State Government, Bala Bello Maru. The sacked Special Advisers and the Directors-General have been directed to hand over the affairs of their organisations to the accounting officers, or the directors of administration of their respective directorates. “In accordance with restructuring exercise, His Excellency relieved all Special Advisers of their appointments. Similarly, all the Directors-General are hereby dropped…

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Bandits release over 1,000 people through negotiation – Matawalle

Aminu Imam

Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle says he granted pardon to repentant bandits because he felt it is “the best approach” to tackle Nigeria’s security challenges. Matawalle said this during a television interview at the weekend, saying that as a result of negotiations more than 1,000 persons abducted by the bandits were released. Recall that Zamfara State is one of the epic-centres of banditry in the North-West region. He continued: “I cannot fold my arms seeing my people being killed every day. The Zamfara template is a focus on inviting various armed…

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“I did not say all bandits are criminals” – Zamfara Gov. Matawalle clarifies

Aminu Imam

Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle, has refuted the news reports that stated that he said not all bandits who terrorise parts of his State and other neighbouring States are criminals. The governor yesterday clarified what he actually said  after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari  in Abuja. According to a press statement issued by the Special Adviser to the governor on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, Zailani Bappa, “A story carried by an online medium quoted Governor Bello Mohammed as saying that not all bandits are criminals. It said, “Indeed, His Excellency was…

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Zamfara: “I’ve no regret dialoguing with bandits” – Matawalle

Aminu Imam

Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle has said that negotiations are on-going with the son of a slain bandits’ leader, Buharin-Daji, and top leader bandits in Zamfara forest and that they will soon lay down their arms. The governor said this when he received a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, at the Government House, Gusau. Recall that Gumi has earlier met with bandits’ leaders to persuade them to embrace peace. Matawalle said the bandit’s decision to lay down his arms would be a turning point in the quest to bring…

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Zamfara: 5 killed as bandits attack mosque, kidnap Imam, 30 others

Aminu Imam

As Matawalle secures unconditional release of 11 kidnap victims  Suspected gunmen on Friday killed 5 worshippers and abducted an Imam in Juma’ah mosque in Dutsen-Gari community of Kanoma District of Maru local government area in Zamfara State. It was learnt that the gunmen arrived at the village on motorbikes when the Imam was delivering the sermon and they opened fire on the congregants.  According to some residents in the area, the bandits abducted the Imam and more than 30 others and dashed into the bush on motorbikes. They said a…

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