The Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has on Tuesday, threatened to release the hard evidence in its possession on its exposed meeting between some Federal Government Agencies and the armed Fulani bandits terrorising the State, after the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, denied the earlier claims made by the Governor, .
Governor Lawal was reacting to the statement by the Minister, where he accused the Zamfara State Government of politicising security in the State.
In a statement signed by Sulaiman Bala Idris, his Senior Special Assistant on Media, the Governor revealed that the State Government possesses hard evidence exposing some Federal Government Agents involved in the negotiations with bandits in the State.
He added that the Minister should have conducted a thorough investigation, before discrediting the State Government.
The statement added: “We sought clarification from the Federal Government, regarding the sneaky negotiations with bandits carried out by some of its Agents, without recourse to the State Government and Heads of Security Agencies in the State.
“We have facts and evidence on what had transpired between these Agents of the Federal Government and the bandits, during the negotiations in several places across Zamfara.
“It is disappointing that the Information Minister discredited our claim without verifying it first. What is expected of him as a professional, is to collaborate with relevant authorities to substantiate the claim’s authenticity.
“Zamfara State Government respects protocol and established authority. We would not come out in the Media to start exposing the names of the Federal Government Agents involved in the covert dialogue with bandits.
“We want to clarify that those individuals leading secret negotiations with bandits in Zamfara, are politicising insecurity, not the State Government.
“The Information Minister’s statement claiming that there were no negotiations between government Officials and bandits in Zamfara, requires further clarification. We have already exposed a few locations where such talks were held with bandits, such as: Birnin Magaji, Maradun, Mun Haye, Ajah, Bawo and Bagege.
“Negotiating with bandits in Zamfara is a grave mistake we cannot afford to make. It is not the solution to the problem, and only encourages and emboldens the criminals. We urge the Federal Government to take a firm stance against such activities and investigate the motives of those who engage in them.”
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