A notorious bandits Commander identified as Auwalu Daudawa and five other members of his group on Monday repented and surrendered their weapons to the Zamfara State Government.

Recall, earlier in January 2021, seven repentant bandits surrendered their weapons and embraced the peace accord instituted by the Governor Bello Matawalle administration of Zamfara State. 

The new repentant bandits were received at the Government House in Gusau, the state capital, in the presence of some traditional rulers and Islamic clerics who took turns to counsel them.

The repentant bandits surrendered about 42 sophisticated weapons and several ammunitions to embrace the peace initiatives of the Zamfara State Government.

Sophisticated weapons including AK-47 rifles, General Multipurpose Machine Gun (GPMG), Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) and several ammunitions were surrendered.

Read Also: 13 KILLED, 11 KIDNAPPED AS BANDITS ATTACK BINGI AND NACHUCHE VILLAGES IN ZAMFARA

Daudawa, who is an indigene of Gidan Jaja and other members of his group took an oath with the Holy Quran to stop banditry and embrace the peace accord.

During the event, Matawalle expressed pleasure and delightment over the peace loving steps taken by the repentant bandits.

He expressed optimism that more bandits will also accept the peace deal to lay down their arms so that peace can be restored in Zamfara and other parts of Nigeria.

Governor Matawalle also urged the general public to work hand in hand with the State Government and security agencies to ensure that insecurity is doused and peace is restored in the State.

Zamfara State, like other North-west States in Nigeria, has suffered series of banditry attacks involving killings and abductions for ransom.

Read Also: GUNMEN ATTACK CONVOY OF ZAMFARA EMIR, KILL EIGHT PERSONS

In 2019, Governor Matawalle entered a peace deal with leaders of bandits operating in the state for the attainment of total peace in the state.

Subsequently, the Governor claimed that negotiation with bandits is the best option for lasting peace in the state just as he said he has no regrets in his administration choosing that option.

Matawalle's stance to continue negotiating with the Bandits in Zamfara state however was strongly condemned as sources alleged that the funds generated by the bandits are used to procure arms and ammunition to perpetuate more heinous crimes.

In spite of the peace agreement, bandits still continued to launch attacks on the State.

On 21st January 2021, bandits attacked residents of Bingi and Nachuche villages in Bungudu local government area of the State, killed 13 people and abducted 11 others.

Read Also: SOLDIERS KILL 35 ARMED BANDITS, ARREST TWO SUSPECTS IN KATSINA AND ZAMFARA

Similarly, JF London, the commander of the Joint Task Force in Zamfara was killed by Bandits on 19th January 2021, two days after security forces killed thirty bandits terrorizing Bungudu Local Government Area of the State.

Also, in December 2020, bandits attacked the convoy of the Emir of Kaura-Namoda in Zamfara State, Alhaji Sanusi Muhammad Asha, and killed eight persons.