A Civil Society Organisation, Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development (PAPSD) has thrown its weight behind the Zamfara State Governor, Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, over his dialogue approach to tackling insecurity in the State.
Reacting to the present insecurity plaguing Zamfara State the Executive Director of PAPSD Dr. Sani Abdulahi Shinkafi in a press statement on Tuesday noted that alternative dispute resolution remains the most credible means to tackle agitations and insecurity just as he reminded Nigerians that late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua adopted the dialogue approach to resolving the youth restiveness in the Niger Delta which has brought about a permanent peace in the region.
According to Shinkafi, dialogue is one of the best methods to drastically reduce insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.
He said, “In the spirit of Governor Matawalle’s peace initiative and alternative dispute resolution mechanism a lot of the notorious deadly armed bandits have embraced the amnesty offered to them by the Governor since he assumed office on 29th May 202″ he added.
Shinkafi noted that recently a notorious bandits commander, Auwalun Daudawa and five others surrendered 20 AK 47 rifles, RPG guns and other dangerous weapons and embraced the Zamfara dialogue and peace initiative.
Recall that Auwalun Daudawa had said his decision to drop arms and turn a good leaf is because of Matawalle’s sincerity to curb banditry and other crimes in the state
Shinkafi claimed that He stated dialogue with bandits which was introduced by Governor Matawalle has significantly reduced killings in the state.
“Although many Nigerians condemned the policy, saying it encourages criminality but many kidnapped victims have been released due to the dialogue and some of the bandits have laid down their arms”
Shinkafi charged the Governor to concentrate on providing basic infrastructural development and go on with the peace initiative, noting that “good and peace-loving people of Zamfara State are solidly behind him irrespective of their political and religious affiliation.
