A total of 216 rifles mostly AK47 have been recovered by Zamfara Government from bandits terrorizing innocent people in the state.
This was contained in a press release signed by Yusuf Idris, Director-General, Press Affairs to Gov. Bello Matawalle, and made available to journalists in Gusau on Sunday.
It said that the governor made the revelation when he received former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon at the Government House, Gusau on Saturday.
The statement said that most of the weapons were voluntarily returned to the government by repentant bandits who surrendered to embrace peace while denouncing their bad ways.
The governor described the elder statesman’s visit to the state as timely and sought for professional advice from the retired general on the best practical ways to end banditry in the state.
“Matawalle maintained that Nigeria now needs more of his personality with the current situation of banditry, kidnapping and other heinous crimes in order to advise current leaders in handling the terrible situation.
“He further said that tapping from the wealth of Gowon’s experience as a former Army General and Head of State who fought for the corporate existence of the country will assist his administration positively on security intelligence and intervention.
“On his government efforts to end the menace of armed banditry the Governor informed the leader that his administration has adopted various methods that include reconciliation which has started to yield positive results as over 216 AK47 rifles have been surrendered to the authorities by surrendering bandits,” the statement added.