…Bars political activities, rallies
Zamfara State Governor, Mohammed Bello Matawalle, has signed into law the anti-banditry Bill, which proposes the death penalty for those found guilty of banditry, kidnappings and other related offences, as part of his administrations efforts to end insecurity in the State.
Matawalle, in a live broadcast in Gusau, the State capital, said the death penalty for criminals is contained in the Prohibition and Punishment for Banditry, Cattle Rustling, Cultism, Kidnapping and Other Incidental Offences, 2022 Act, which he signed on June 28, 2022.
Based on the new law, the governor said anyone found guilty of supporting or aiding banditry, kidnapping, cattle-rustling and other related offences in the state would face life imprisonment, 10 or 20 years in jail without an option of a fine.
This also comes as the Governor signed an Executive Order which gives vigilantes the right to bear arms and fight bandits also. The governor also banned all political activities, including gatherings and rallies in the state pending the official commencement of electioneering as encapsulated in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 2023 election timetable.
Matawalle explained that despite efforts by his government to enforce the new security measures in order to tackle insecurity in the State, some people, who he described as unscrupulous elements, are bent on thwarting the efforts on the pretext of conducting political activities. He added that it has become imperative for the State government to take necessary steps to stop those he termed unscrupulous elements from achieving their nefarious objectives.
He, however, banned the riding of motorcycles from 8pm to 6am in Mareri, Damba, Tsunami, Tsauni, Barakallahu, Samaru, Gada-Biyu and Janyau-East, following the recent incursion of bandits in some areas on the outskirts of Gusau, the state capital.
