The Zamfara State Government has earmarked a total of N200 million for its amnesty programme for 'repentant' bandits in 2021.

The figure was contained in the budget details passed by the Zamfara State House of Assembly in December 2020.

In a copy of the budget seen by SaharaReporters, N354 million was also budgeted for projects related to grazing reserves.

The Bello Matawalle-led government had in 2019 entered a peace agreement with bandits.

The governor said negotiation with the gunmen is the best option for lasting peace in the state.

Matawalle while hosting Mohammed Adamu, Inspector-General of Police; Yusuf Bichi, Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS); and other security heads on July 16, 2020 also offered bandits in the state two cows in exchange for every AK47 rifle surrendered.

He explained that he chose to offer cows because the bandits need the cows to advance their economic interests.

In January, SaharaReporters exposed how 15 brand new Hilux vehicles and cash gifts were given to leaders of different 'repentant' banditry groups by Matawalle.

“Those bandits have different group, so if they say they repent, the governor will give them a Hilux vehicle but unfortunately they are now using the vehicles to carry out attacks,” a military source told SaharaReporters

“It’s so sad, he called it peace and reconciliation programme, but all you need to be rich now in Zamfara is to take up arms against the people.”

Also, the state government recently granted amnesty to Auwalun Daudawa, the leader of the gang of bandits that abducted over 300 schoolboys in the Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Daudawa and his gang on December 11, 2020 invaded the school, shooting indiscriminately to scare residents. The operation led to the disappearance of over 300 students.

The abduction happened when President Muhammadu Buhari was visiting his home state of Katsina.

After their release on December 17, 2020, Matawalle, said the boys were rescued through the help of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and that no ransom was paid.

Zamfara, like other North-West states, has in the last 10 years faced devastating attacks from armed bandits.

A committee set up to investigate the menace of armed banditry in the region, headed by Mohammed Abubakar, a former Inspector General of Police, reported that in Zamfara State between June 2011 and May 2019, 4,983 women were widowed; 25,050 children were orphaned; and more than 190,000 people were displaced as a result of armed banditry.

Last year, Governor Aminu Masari, Matawalle's counterpart in Katsina State, said his administration had to pull out of the peace deal it had with bandits that had been terrorising residents of the state.

Masari said despite the peace deal, the gunmen continued to carry out attacks with their accomplices from Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger Republic, leading to “indiscriminate killings” and kidnappings in the state.

https://saharareporters.com/2021/02/18/exclusive-zamfara-spend-n200million-%E2%80%98repentant%E2%80%99-bandits-2021

This is just disgusting. How can 200 million be spent on criminals saying "rehabilitation ". God why? Why do we have useless leaders...eh?

The king in the north

With oil money. And the man is an opportunist.

While this adhoc amnesty programme will serve short-term purpose, it is important that a well-thought out programme is developed by Northern state governors, politicians, NGOs, philantropists, etc for helping Northern youths from poor families to explore opportunities that come from
- acquisition of education,
- skill acquisition,
- formation on of cooperative societies to access loan and input for farming,
- building and operation of ranches,
- etc.

The bottom line is that life of every average young Fulani boy MUST NOT revolve around cattle rearing. Creation of more productive opportunities is needed across Northern States for young people to maximize their intellect, talents and physical ability.

Country of crazy people

this thing will only make more heartless people join banditry. if to say i no fear gun and blood i for don dey forest now

How on earth did they measure this staged repentance? I once asked in religious section if "planned repentance is a valid and true one". It cannot be.

why u create me come this country Lord Jesus Christ my God and my king! why now.......why....... God!

hey........

I can categorically tell u that this country is run by terrorists....

let's pray that this ideology of "power by brute force without regard for human life and morals" should not spread down to the south.

the north nurtured these to destroy oppositions.... they have the power now but cannot control their unleashed dogs....instead for them to deal with these menace they are still pampering them believing they will be useful in 2023 knowing that its killing their society and the country at large....

... That's good... That's good... There's amnesty for boko-haram and now bandit.... Armed robbers, murderers, kidnappers, rapist, yahoo-boyz, ritualist should calm down... there's hope for them before the end of the year.... amnesty will be granted to them as well....

That's what all the necessary Killings have been about.

BEHOLD BEING A BANDIT IN NIGERIA COMES WITH RETIREMENT BENEFITS!

Ministry of Fulani affairs loading.....

NASS the rubber stamp chamber will approve

Just imagine! This is a leeway to more criminality. Gush! Divide this shithole of a country.Governor Matawalle, God surely punish you and all the supporters of terrorists and their terrorism.

PDP governors re gradually coming out sponsors of bandits .
Two pdp governors(matawalle and bala mohammed) have been openly supporting the criminal activities of the bandits.
While matawalle is rallying round for paying of ransoms for bandits, bala mohammed is openly defending them.

No wonder late Gen azazi was killed for exposing pdp as founder of boko haram

This is awful. You cannot reform a kidnapper, armed robber or bandit. He's doing it for money (not for some idealistic reasons) and he'll always go back to it when he's no longer satisfied with the peanut you're paying him under the guise of amnesty.

Cheii

Just imagine

Thieves parading as politicians

Damnnn niggarrrr
Isoright

This is good for our democracy...

WTF.


The militant fought for a cause YaraduA settle them due to oil spillage that damage their drinking water and farms.

What are bandits fighting for?


Is there no Hausa/Fulani on this forum or does it mean they can't type or lack of comprehension, why is it only Yoruba and Igbos commenting on every news on this forum.

Illiterate Arewa forum where are you guys to condemn this Hishba character that's leading Nigeria backward, celebrating and compensate bandits. Its obvious.

Zamafara a Hausa state , they keep slaving for the stupid caliphate

Abeg who know where Dem for dey sell *banditry form*.......I wor check something for inside

Chaii, who'd have thought that a day would come when banditry would be LUCRATIVE like it is now.....so Tay banditry don dey turn to government work small small...

Business as usual

Hmmm,,,,

Na to just give a deep sigh over Naija matter now. It gives a better relief than our govt

If we talk now them go say our own too much...
God pls send me out of this country

Na dem dey ginger those guys to go into crime

Isn't this a shitty country? You can't pay the minimum wage but you earmarked 200 million for repentant bandits or terrorists?


What do they even mean by repentant? Like we can Rob a bank now and say we repent? Or kill people or kidnap and say we repent?


Why are they pampering these guys? And paying them huge fees? Do they think that will solve the problem?

They should investigate this zamfara and Bauchi governor.

Lori oro
Iron po repete

"One of the northern governors is the commander of bandits and Boko Haram"