Zamfara State Governor, Dr. Bello Muhammad Matawalle has reacted to a controversial statement where he was quoted to have said; “not all bandits are criminals”.
His Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, Zailani Bappa, said; “Indeed, His Excellency was at the Presidential villa on thursday to brief Mr. President on the security situation in the state. He also granted a short interview with the press crew at the villa.”
“In that interview, he tried to make clear his known and popular view that not all Fulanis are criminals, he went on to explain the injustices meted on them such as rustling their cattle as reasons that pushed them to criminality.”
“If indeed he mentioned the word bandits instead of Fulani, then it was an inadvertent mistake as common sense dictates that banditry cannot at any time be justified as a non criminality.”
“We wish to call on all Nigerians who come across this story to disregard the message as that is not at all what His Excellency meant to say nor the kind of message he wanted to portray.”
“Governor Matawalle never at any time supports banditry and this is evident in the dispensation of his duties since he became the Governor of Zamfara State.”
