August 16, (THEWILL) – Anyone found guilty of “banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, cultism, or serving as a bandits’ informant and other related offences in Zamfara”, will henceforth face the death sentence, according to a new law, signed by the State Governor, Bello Matawalle.
This was announced by Governor Bello Matawalle in a broadcast to the people of the state on Tuesday morning Matawalle, on June 28, 2022, signed the bill titled Prohibition and Punishment for Banditry, Cattle Rustling, Cultism, Kidnapping and Other Incidental Offences 2022, passed by the state legislature into law.
The Governor had said the law formed part of measures to tackle banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling in Zamfara.
But in a broadcast on Tuesday, Matawalle said, “On the 28th of June this year, I assented to the bill on Prohibition and Punishment for Banditry, Cattle Rustling, Cultism, Kidnapping and Other Incidental Offences, 2022.
“The law provides a legal instrument for prosecuting banditry-related offenders.
“Based on the new law, anyone found guilty of banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, cultism, or serving as a bandits’ informant is subject to the death penalty.
“Similarly, anyone found guilty of supporting in any manner the aforementioned offences, faces a sentence of life in prison, 20 years in jail, or ten years in prison, without the option of a fine.”
The Governor stated that the measures were part of his administration’s unrelenting efforts to tackle the problem of banditry that has plagued the state and the neighbouring northwestern states for more than a decade.
He maintained that he has been developing strategies to stem the tide of banditry across the state ever since the inception of his administration.
“Gladly, the latest measures are beginning to yield the intended results despite the pockets of attacks here and there by the bandits
“With regards to the issue of informants, which is the major impediment in the fight against banditry, I am glad to inform the peace-loving people of Zamfara State that we have succeeded in apprehending many of them.
“They are currently being interrogated before being prosecuted in accordance with the fullest extent of the law”, Matawalle added.
