TheCable

Abdulaziz Yari, governor of Zamfara state, says some traditional rulers in the state are working with bandits.

The governor said some of the rulers are taking money from the bandits who have been fingered in the incessant attacks in the state.

Zamfara has been under attack by bandits in recent months, despite continuous deployment of security forces.

Speaking with state house correspondents in Abuja on Monday, Yari wondered why the state had low crime rate in 2015 “with just about 250 soldiers”, as against the “1,600 soldiers” on ground now.

“Some of the traditional rulers are supporting the banditry activities or taking advantage or taking money from them; that is very dangerous,”he said.

“To give you trust to manage people through tradition and then you are taking part, directly or indirectly; that is not acceptable.”

The governor also said the state government has been able to recover 10 AK-47 rifles from suspects in the state at an amnesty of one million naira each.

He said his administration had hired intelligence officers, civilian joint task force “so that they can help us by giving us the details.”

“Any one that we find wanting in this, definitely he must face punishment. And we are trying to use every avenue that we have to ensure that we fish out those that are within us – within the traditional rulers and outside,” the governor said.

“The total number of traditional rulers is about 300. So, if we find any one. Anyone! He would go.”