The executive governor of Zamfara state, Governor Bello Matawalle, has signed into law, a death penalty sentence on anybody found guilty of banditry, cattle rustling, cultism, or serving as a bandits’ informant, and not excluding Kidnappers and /or any form of terrorism.

 

The Governor announced this in a broadcast to the people of the state on Tuesday, August 16. He added that these strict measures were part of his administration’s unrelenting efforts to tackle the problem of banditry that has plagued the state and the neighboring northwestern states for more than a decade.

 

In his words during the broadcast, he said;

 

“On the 28th of June this year, I assented to the bill on Prohibition and Punishment for Banditry, Cattle Rustling, Cultism, Kidnapping and Other Incidental Offences, 2022.

 

 

The law provides a legal instrument for prosecuting banditry-related offenders. Based on the new law, anyone found guilty of banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, cultism, or serving as a bandits’ informant is subject to the death penalty.

 

 

Similarly, anyone found guilty of supporting in any manner the aforementioned offences faces a sentence of life in prison, 20 years in jail, or ten years in prison, without the option of a fine.”

 

 

“Gladly, the latest measures are beginning to yield the intended results despite the pockets of attacks here and there by the bandits”

 

 

“With regards to the issue of informants, which is the major impediment in the fight against banditry, I am glad to inform the peace-loving people of Zamfara State that we have succeeded in apprehending many of them.

 

 

Governor Bello Matawalle added that they are currently being interrogated before being prosecuted in accordance with the fullest extent of the law.”