A notorious commander of bandits identified as Auwalun Daudawa, from Gidan Jaja on Monday repented and surrendered the group’s weapons to the Zamfara State Government.
The development also saw members of the group take an oath to stop banditry and embrace the peace accord instituted by the state Governor, Bello Matawalle to end the decade-old banditry in the state.
The peace meeting had in attendance, traditional rulers and Islamic clerics who took time out to advise the repentant bandits after handing over the weapons to the state Police Command.
They surrendered 20 AK 47 rifles, 1 RPG, 1 PKT, 20 magazines and 72 live ammunition.
The bandits, who swore on the Holy Quran, indicated their willingness to stop banditry and embrace peace for the rest of their lives.
Recall that the state government was recently accused of giving 15 brand new Hilux vehicles and cash gifts to the leaders of different ‘repentant’ banditry groups.
A top military officer who recently spoke with SaharaReporters noted that bandits in the state are carrying out attacks with some of the vehicles given to them by Matawalle.
The officer had said, “Those bandits have different groups, so if they say they repent, the governor will give them a Hilux vehicle but unfortunately they are now using the vehicles to carry out attacks.
“Like yesterday (Monday), they attacked Jankara but were resisted by the local vigilantes, so they fled and left one of those Hilux vehicles and the motorcycles they came with behind.
“It’s so sad, he called it a peace and reconciliation programme, but all you need to be rich now in Zamfara is to take up arms against the people.”