Gov. Matawalle Orders House-to-House Search

Governor Bello Matawalle has directed the task force on security to embark on a house-to-house search to flush out criminal elements in the 19 emirates of the state.

He gave the directive during a broadcast to the people of Zamfara in the early hours of Tuesday in Gusau.

The broadcast was preceded by an expanded Security Council meeting that lasted for more than eight hours.

According to the governor, the measure was part of an effort to restore law and order and ensure peace in the state.

Matawalle urged the emirs who are part of the council meetings to be vigilant and report suspicious persons or strange movements in their respective domains to Security agents.

Also, he announced restrictions on motorcycle movement in the communities on the outskirt of Gusau from 9 p.m. to dawn.

Security agencies are ordered to shoot at sight, any motorcycle rider who violated the order and refused to stop at security checking points within the affected areas.

This, he said, follows reports of the use of motorcycles by bandits and other criminal elements to perpetrate their criminal activities within the state capital and its environs.

Hotel operators are to scrutinise their guests using valid identification before accommodating them.

“This measure idols part of the government’s efforts to tackle insecurity in the state, as the government is concerned over the 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.

Matawalle said the government was committed to protecting the lives and property of the people.

“Security of lives and property of the citizenry is a basic function of government anywhere. My government is doing everything humanly possible following the laws of the land to ensure the discharge of this responsibility,” he said.

However, the council charged security operatives, particularly military and police, to scale up efforts in combating banditry and other criminal activities in the state.

Meanwhile, the council noted that peace was gradually returning to the state, but tasked the security operatives with synergy and coordination to tackle the pockets of banditry and kidnapping in parts of the state.