The Zamfara governor, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, has said the state has no single internally displaced person (IDP) camp in the state.
The governor made the statement at a press conference on Sunday in reaction to criticisms by his opponents, particularly the immediate former Governor Abdulaziz Yari, following Matawalle’s initiatives to curb insecurity bedevilling the state for almost decade.
Speaking through his Director-General, Press Affairs, Yusuf Idris in Gusau while reacting to the recent attacks in Gummi community which led to the death of 14 innocent people in the state, Governor Matawalle described the peace reconciliation with bandits and Yansakai as reassuring, saying the state has been enjoying relative peace since he assumed office as governor for about six months before the unfortunate attack in Gummi.
“I wish to assure the people of the state that my administration will continue to remain focused in meeting the yearnings and aspirations of our people as the whole world is well informed that the security situation has significantly improved in the state and we no longer have one single internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp in the state as all displaced persons have returned to their ancestral homes and are living without any threat,” Matawalle said.
The governor further accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) particularly the former Governor Abdulaziz Yari of trying to disrupt the peace processes through provocative criticism against his administration, alleging that he Yari) “sponsored some criminals to attack the good people of the state.”
“I want to challenge these wailers to point to any part of the state that was under threat during their time and is still in such condition because kidnapping, rustling and all other forms of banditry are history while commuters, traders and other citizens carryout their legitimate businesses freely at any time of day or night since roads and markets that were hitherto closed are fully operational now,” the governor stated.
He warned that the ban on any form of political gathering was still on, saying anyone found wanting will face the consequences regardless of political inclination.
