No Amnesty for Bandits and Terrorists -Army Chief, Lagbaja

In a recent meeting with Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, firmly stated that the amnesty program for bandits and terrorists in Zamfara and other states has proven to be a failure. Lagbaja expressed his concerns about the program during a courtesy call in Abuja on Wednesday.

The COAS highlighted that the amnesty program had not achieved its intended objectives in the past. Instead, it provided an opportunity for criminals to regroup, reorganize, and launch attacks on innocent citizens. He emphasized that the program had failed not only in Zamfara but in several other states in the North West region.

“The amnesty program has created a platform for these criminals to come together and pose a threat to our defenseless citizens. It is clear that these criminal elements cannot be reformed through amnesty. We need to reevaluate this program,” Lagbaja stated.

During the meeting, Lagbaja appreciated the governor for providing feedback on the activities of the troops working to restore peace in the state. He assured the governor that he had directed the deployment of additional resources and the release of funds to reactivate inoperative platforms. These measures would enhance the effectiveness of the troops in their operations in Zamfara. Lagbaja identified the crisis in Zamfara as a combination of conflicts between farmers and herders, ethnic confrontations, and the pursuit of economic empowerment through mining activities. He reassured the governor that the Army remained committed to addressing the security challenges in the state.”We cannot tolerate a situation where certain individuals act as outlaws, attacking communities and causing harm to innocent women and children. By collaborating with the state government and other stakeholders, we can eliminate these criminal elements and significantly reduce insecurity. I urge the state government to support the implementation of the strategies we will recommend,” Lagbaja added.

Governor Lawal acknowledged the significant security threats faced by Zamfara and appealed for the support of the Nigerian Army in addressing them. He praised the efforts of the troops in restoring peace in the state but stressed the need for increased military presence and resources to bolster their operations.

Lawal expressed his concern about the deteriorating state of security, with only a few operational vehicles in the state and frequent cases of kidnapping and killings of innocent people.

He highlighted the adverse impact of insecurity on various aspects of development, such as education, agriculture, and the overall economy. “As the governor, it is my responsibility to protect the lives and properties of the people of Zamfara. However, I cannot do this alone. I need the support of the Chief of Army Staff and his team to bring peace to Zamfara and Nigeria as a whole,” Lawal stated. He further emphasized the urgency of deploying additional military personnel to Zamfara to strengthen security efforts and combat crime effectively.

The governor concluded by expressing his hopes that resolving the security challenges would revive development in the state and enable children to resume their education, restoring normalcy to the region.