ZAMFARA GOV DEBUNKS MARADUN KIDNAP REPORTS, REJECTS NEGOTIATION WITH BANDITS
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Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, on Tuesday, said contrary to media reports, people were not abducted by bandits in the Maradun Local Government Area of the state.
Reports emerged that gunmen kidnapped more than 50 women and children in a raid on Kakin Dawa village, with the State Police Command saying more operatives had been deployed to the area.
Two days after the incident, Lawal who was a guest on a Television Program, described the news as false and inaccurate.
“I am not aware of that incident. I am here in Zamfara State, I haven’t heard about that incident,” he said.
“I am not aware that 50 people were kidnapped in Maradun Local Government. Whosever gave you that information is not correct.”
The governor stated that the state government is working closely with the police, military, and other security agencies to tackle state insecurity.
He explained that the collaboration has paid off as kidnapping incidents have drastically reduced.
According to Lawal, the North-Western state has not recorded any kidnapping incident in the last six months.
“There may be so pockets of kidnapping here and there, that I can’t rule. These and all the measures put in place are not what it used to be in the past. In the past, hardly a day passed by without hearing that 300 people were being killed.
“Within the last six months, I don’t think there has been any such incident reported in Zamfara State. Insecurity is there, but we are making conscious efforts to make sure that we handle that to the best of our ability,” he added.
When asked if his administration would consider negotiating with bandits, the governor rejected the idea.
He said the Zamfara State Government is not in any rush to strike a deal with the militants for peace to reign in the state.
“My position has always been very clear in terms of negotiation and the nature of negotiation with these bandits.
“I am not in a rush in negotiating with these people. I am not going to negotiate with any bandit. That has always been my stand. I believe you can only negotiate at a point of strength and not as a point of weakness,” the governor added.
The governor also weighed in on the controversial tax reform bills before the National Assembly.
Lawal noted that some financially less-buoyant states may not survive if the tax reform bills are passed and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.
“Some states may not be able to survive so it is something that must be carefully studied so that we don’t hurt ourselves in the long run.
“Well, the tax issue has a lot of components – there is the good aspect and there is the bad aspect. So, we are studying the situation so as also to advise our people on the way forward. It’s an ongoing process and we will continue with the engagement,” he said.
The new tax bills introduced by the Tinubu administration have been enveloped in widespread controversy and sparked scathing criticisms and stiff opposition from many including the 36 state governors under the aegis of the National Economic Council (NEC). The 19 governors in northern Nigeria have also unequivocally rejected sections of the bills.
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