By Zailani Nappa
Governor Bello Mohammed (Matawallen Maradun) has warned that, more than any other time in the past, the pursuit for peace in the state will now bear strictly a carrot and stick approach.
He handed down the stern warning when he summoned a stakeholders meeting today at the Government House where the issue of security of the state was the agenda.
Governor Matawalle wondered why some stakeholders who earlier allowed peace to reign in the state are allowing themselves to slide back into criminality in some parts of the state, a situation that he said, can never be tolerated.
Already, the state Government has stepped up its fight against banditry as it continues to escalate especially in the neighbouring states of Katsina and Sokoto.
This past one week, two squadrons of the Nigeria Police were established in the state while the 200 Hilux vans purchased by the Matawalle administration for the fight against banditry by the security operatives have arrived the state.
In the same light, Governor Matawalle commended the Federal Government for launching a special Military operation that will cover the entire States of the North-West and promised the total support of his administration to this effort.
The meeting which comprised of all the traditional rulers in the state, all the security operations chiefs in the state, all the leaders of Fulani groups in the state and all the vigilante leaders and those of ‘Yan Sa Kai, was held behind closed doors.
Governor Matawalle however, warned that the meeting was the final stage at arresting any further threat to the acquired peace in the state and reiterated the commitment of his administration to deal decisively with anyone or group attempting to wind the hands of the clock backwards.
After the meeting, all leaders of the stakeholders present at the meeting expressed their satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting and promised to ensure that the peace in the state will be maintained in spite of the recent hiccups witnessed in Tsafe, Maru and Dan Sadau.
Zailani Bappa is the Special Adviser, Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications to Governor Matawwalle.
