The Zamfara State Government has directed residents of the state to obtain guns for self-defence against banditry ravaging various parts of the state.
The directive was contained in a statement by the Commissioner for Information Mr. Ibrahim Dosara on Saturday.
The decision was made as one of the measures to deal with the recent escalating terrorist attacks, kidnapping, and the criminal levies being enforced on the communities, which “has been a source of worry and concern to the people and government of the state”.
According to the statement, the Government has also directed the Commissioner of Police to issue a licence to all qualified persons who wish to own a gun.
The statement read, “Government has henceforth, directed individuals to prepare and obtain guns to defend themselves against the bandits, as the government has directed the state commissioner of police to issue a licence to all those who qualify and are wishing to obtain such guns to defend themselves”.
All those who are qualified and willing to own guns are to reach out to the state Commissioner of Police and obtain gun licenses after satisfying the necessary criteria.
The statement read further that “people are strictly warned and advised to make sure that any information or intelligence about an informant must be true and nothing but the truth, as all information on such informants, must carry correct data on the suspects, including their pictures, correct names, address, occupation and witness to testify the genuity of the information given, as the government is taking punitive measures against anyone found as an informant. Any person who gives wrong information against anybody will be served the same punishment as an informant and will be treated as such.”
Additionally, the Zamfara State Government has ordered the recruitment of 200 additional Community Protection Guards in each of the 19 emirates of the state, making it 500 per emirate, to increase their manpower and strengthen its force and capacity to deal with the bandits.
