Matawalle’s Magic Wand in Zamfara

The government of Bello Matawalle is restoring sanity in the state through good governance and collective bargaining system.


Hon Bello Matawalle appeared on the scene in Zamfara Government House at a time, insecurity orchestrated by bandits was rife and at its peak in the state. The governor, who ascended the exalted office as a beneficiary of rule of law, promised to restore peace and order in the state so that even development can take place in Zamfara.

There is no gain saying that prior to his administration, peace and order took a flight leaving in its trail, violence, hunger, insanity and ruins giving no room for development. Interestingly Zamfara state, with the slogan, ‘Farming is our Pride” is largely an agrarian state with overwhelming majority of its people engaged in one form of farming activity or the other. The state is endowed with vast land suitable for agricultural activities and as such, many people both within and outside the state is seen during the rainy seasons, struggling to go to their farms for cultivation of both food and cash crops.

The state which was among the leading states in the federation in terms of agriculture had lost that position as a result of rampant cases of armed banditry which reared its ugly head in 2012. Thousands of lives were lost, uncountable number of cattle and other animals were carted away, many houses were burnt to ashes, while many people were kidnapped from 2012 to June this year, a situation that has almost crippled farming activities, as many farmers abandoned their farmlands for fear of either being killed or kidnapped. Many large scale farmers who usually produce foodstuff in large quantity and whose farmlands are located in the hinterland had completely stopped farming due to inherent danger posed by bandits who were scouting for them to abduct for ransom, knowing fully well that, they (Farmers) have money to offer whenever they were being abducted.

Similarly, many villagers were forced out of their settlements by the bandits and made to become internally displaced persons in their own state, thereby, making it completely impossible for them to cultivate their farmlands. In fact, one would say, without any contradiction that, more than 60% of farmlands in the state were not cultivated from the time the armed banditry activities became volatile in 2015 up to May this year.

However, with the emergence of Dr. Bello Matawalle as the Executive Governor of the state in June this year, things have started to change for the better as peace unimaginably returned to the state following peace initiatives adopted by the Governor. Immediately he assumed office, Governor Matawalle, who is conversant with the measures taken by his predecessor, Alhaji Abdul Aziz Yari to remedy the menace with little or no success, came up with a dialogue with all the stakeholders aimed at restoring peace in the state.

Considering the peace initiatives he introduced, Governor Matawalle immediately disbanded the vigilante group and Yansakai who were considered as major causes of the Fulani reprisal attacks. This was because the Fulani usually launch reprisal attacks whenever one of them was killed by the Yansakai or the vigilante group which in most cases resulted in the killing of hundreds of innocent persons just to avenge the killing of one of them. The Governor also granted unconditional amnesty to all the bandits while on their parts, the bandits immediately released all those in their captivity and also repented, promising the Governor that, they would not attack or kidnap anybody.

To show to the bandits the seriousness of his administration in the peace process, Governor Matawalle organized Fulani cultural festival during the last Eid-el Kabir Sallah celebration where the Fulani who had for many years been in their hideouts in the forest areas attended the celebration. They dined and wined with their Hausa farmers counterparts who they hitherto viewed as their enemies and from that day, total peace gradually returned to the state. With this peace initiative introduced by the administration of Governor Matawalle, farming activities have now returned in full force. Farmers can now go to their farms without any fear of being killed or kidnapped.

Speaking on the issue, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Matawalle on security, Alhaji Abubakar Dauran said, “nobody will tell you the exact figure of people killed during the period or the amount of money lost but what we have on record is that, over 3,000 people lost their lives, over 500 cars were burnt down, while over 500 people had paid for ransom before they were released, excluding the 320 people who were set free as a result of the peace process”. Alhaji Dauran however thanked God that, banditry was now a thing of the past in the state as a result of the peace initiatives and the amnesty given to the repentant bandits who have heeded to the call by the state government and embraced peace. Dauran further explained that, farming activities have since commenced, stressing that, since the peace process started, no single person was either killed or kidnapped in the whole state.

Commenting on the peace process that enables farmers to return to their farmlands which some people viewed as temporary arrangement, the state Police commissioner, Alhaji Usman Nagogo expressed confidence that the amnesty was a permanent solution to banditry in the state, advising farmers not to entertain any fear. He said, “We were able to build trust and confidence between us and the bandits. They have come to believe that this process is not a deceit and one other issue is that the bandits themselves had been living in a terrible situation in the forest and were looking for a way out of their predicament.

“These are the people that made millions in cattle rustling and other crimes but they couldn’t enjoy it because they were caged in the forest. So when they discovered absolute freedom without any condition, they were overjoyed and quickly surrendered and accepted the government’s offer of peace negotiations and total submission to the will of the government.” The police commissioner further explained that, “The confidence the bandits have in the process and the familiarisation we have with them, coupled with the interaction we are having with them on a daily basis is an indication that the process is a permanent one.

“So, I will say that the peace in Zamfara is inimitable and cannot be changed, as such, I am calling on the farmers in the state not to listen to the mischief makers who want to instill fears into their minds that the arrangement is not going to last long. Peace has come to stay in Zamfara, as such, the popular farming activities which the state was known for in the previous years would surely return,” the police boss reaffirmed. Many farmers interviewed have commended Governor Matawalle for his giant effort in tackling insecurity problems in the state within a short time of his administration, stressing that, they have returned to their farmlands in this year’s farming season. A retired army captain who engaged in farming activities as his business, Captain Saidu Gusau said, he was out of farming business since the insecurity problems started some years ago explaining however that he has now returned to his farm.

Another farmer, Malam Yusha,u Kuryar Madaro said farmers from his community who were forced out of their village and took refuge in Kaura Namoda town have now returned home and many of them have gone back to their farmlands, expressing total support to the administration of Governor Matawalle for restoring peace in the state. It is equally important to note that the Dansadau fertiled land which is quite suitable for cultivation of almost all the food crops but was abandoned by farmers due to insecurity is now fully utilized as farmers now have access to the area because the bandits are no more invading the place as they used to do before. As this peace initiative is working like a magic wand, the good people of Zamfara state can now heave a sigh of relief as they look forward to better days ahead.