By Abba Gwale
Zamfara state Council of Traditional Rulers has blamed the Federal Government for the abduction of students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, by bandits last Friday.
The council lamented that the situation could have been averted, if Governor Bello Matawalle was in control of the security architecture of the state.
Chairman of the council and Emir of Anka, Alhaji Attahiru Mohammed, who led 16 other emirs in the state to commiserate with the Governor on the abduction of the schoolgirls said they know the Governor is doing his best on the issue of insecurity in the state.
“We note that just as you are doing your best, others elsewhere are doing their worst. We also know that you do not control the security architecture. If you did have their total control, we know such a thing will never happen in the state.”
The traditional rulers described the Jangebe incident in the state as an irony, considering the tremendous successes of the peace accord.
They also appreciated the commitment and sincerity of Governor Matawalle as well as his success in the last one and half years in curbing the menace of banditry in the state.
“As true representatives of our subjects, we are here to register our sympathy with you and to promise you that we are solidly behind you in your bid to secure our communities,’’ the Emirs said.
They called on the governor to relieve his mind of heavy worry over what happened and prayed that God returned the girls home safely.
“We urge you to continue with your good work which we note is the best approach that is yielding results to our communities,’’ the monarchs said.
In his remarks, Governor Matawalle assured the emirs that in spite of everything, he would never stop the peace process, saying it was still the best option for peace in the process of finding lasting peace in the state.
“Any sabotage to the efforts we are making in the state is a sabotage to the efforts of the Federal Government. The world knows our boundaries and the world knows our successes,” Matawalle said.
He thanked the Emirs for their concern and promised that his administration will do everything within its powers to rescue the innocent girls and return them to the warm embrace of their respective families.
