Zamfara’s governor, Bello Matawalle, has ordered the task force on security to conduct house-to-house searches across the 19 emirates of the state to root out criminal elements.
Early on Tuesday morning in Gusau, Matawalle broadcast the order to the people of Zamfara.
An extended Security Council meeting that lasted more than eight hours came before the broadcast.
The governor stated that the action was taken as part of an attempt to maintain calm and restore law and order in the state.
He advised the emirs present at the council meeting to exercise caution and alert security personnel to any unusual activity or suspicious people in their territories.
In addition, Matawalle declared that from 9 p.m. to morning, motorcycle traffic in the communities on the outskirts of Gusau would be restricted.
Any motorbike rider who disobeyed the order and refused to stop at security checkpoints within the impacted zones was to be shot at sight, according to his directive to the security services.
He claims that the action was taken in response to reports that bandits and other criminals were using motorcycles in the state capital and its surroundings to carry out their illegal activities.
The governor also instructed hotel owners to check each guest’s identification before allowing them to stay.
“This measure idols part of government’s efforts to tackle insecurity in the state, as government is concern over usage of hotels by terrorists and criminals to perpetrate their heinous activities in the state.
“Any hotelier found violating the new order will have his hotel shut down and face prosecution according to the law.
“The state government would not take it lightly with anyone found disturbing the peace and security of the people,” he added.
The council also ordered security personnel, particularly the military and police, to increase their efforts in the state’s fight against banditry and other illegal activity.
The council acknowledged that the state was gradually returning to peace but gave the security personnel the job of working in unison and coordination to combat the pockets of banditry and kidnapping that still existed in some areas of the state.
