1,000 bandits surrender weapons to Governor Yari in Zamfara

- The Army says it remains committed to ridding the state of crime and told the bandits that they have no option than to renounce their movement

- The repentant bandits say they want the government to care more for Fulani communities and also stop harassment of Fulanis by volunteer vigilante group Yan Sakai
About 1,000 bandits have surrendered their weapons to the state government in Zamfara.

Tribune reports that bandits from 14 camps in Zurmi local government area of the northern state submitted their arms with the promise to never return to a life of crime.
General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division Nigeria Army, Kaduna, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, while speaking at Gidan Jaja village in Zurmi, said the Army was committed to ending the issue of banditry in the state after recent killings.

“Either the bandits like it or not, banditry must stop in Zamfara State. Therefore, it is better for them to renounce banditry and surrender their weapons now or be forced to do so,” Oyebade, who was represented by Brigade Commander, 1 Brigade, Sokoto, Brigadier General Ginikanwa Nwosu, warned.
Speaking on behalf of the bandits, leader Samaila Samaho Tsannu named two reasons for the attacks by Fulanis in the state. The first, he said was the neglect of Fulani communities by the state government and the second was the attacks on Fulanis by volunteer vigilante group Yan Sakai.

Recall that the Army recently held a dialogue between the opposing sides in the recent Zamfara killings and announced the suspension of military operations in the state in order to give the people a chance to make peace.