Really? Not All Bandits Are Criminals – Zamfara Governor

The Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle has differed in the generalisation of bandits as perpetrators of crime, noting that not all of them are criminals.
Recall that Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State had on Thursday last week made a case for the killer herdsmen, saying they had no choice than to protect themselves with AK-47 as the Government is not providing them security.
Also making a case for bandits in the State following a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Governor Matawalle explained that most of the bandits take up arms due to the injustice meted on them by some members of the society.
According to him, those saddled with the responsibility of protecting the community, for instance, the vigilante group, sometimes rustle their cattle and destroy their livelihood.
Read also: Toor! Zamfara Governor To Receive ‘Repentant’ Bandits
“Not all of them are criminals. If you investigate what is happening, and what made them to take the laws into their hands, some of them, sometimes were cheated by so-called the vigilante group. They normally go to their settlements and destroy property and take their animals. They did not have anyone to speak with, so sometimes, they go for revenge. When the vigilante group attacks them, they go for reprisals. That is exactly what happened”, Premium Times reported he said.Photos Credit: Getty