I Told Niger Gov To Negotiate With Bandits – Matawalle

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has said he advised his Niger State counterpart, Abubakar Bello, to negotiate with bandits.

Concise News reported that bandits yesterday invaded Government Science College in Kagara, Niger State, and abducted students and staff of the school.

Matawalle who met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja yesterday said negotiating with bandits is not a sign of weakness.

According to him, he realized that not all bandits are criminals.

“It had been there for almost eight years before I came. Following the dialogue I initiated with the bandits, Zamfara is now very calm”, NAN quoted him as saying.

“I have advised the Governor of Niger to meet with all stakeholders and find out the root cause of the crisis so as to initiate dialogue and ensure reconciliation. That is the only way to achieve what I have been able to achieve in my State.

“Most of the criminals that caused trouble in Zamfara were not from my State. Two months ago, we had some repentant bandits who surrendered their weapons. One was from Yobe, two from Kaduna, two from Niger; so, you see, it is a gang.”