Northwest governors said they have granted amnesty to cattle rustlers and arm bandits as part of measures to restore peace in the zone.
Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State disclosed this in a communique read at the end of a one day security and reconciliation meeting with security agents, vigilance and volunteer groups, herdsmen and farmers in Katsina on Thursday.
The communique read: “As from today, no vigilante group member or volunteers should attack or kill any herdsman, as sacrifice must be made by both sides to ensure peace reign.
“Herdsmen and their families should be allowed to go for their normal businesses, attend markets and worship places without molestation provided they don’t carry arms.
“Those bandits who rustled animals from communities should immediately return them to the government or Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association.
“Bandits should surrender their weapons and immediately release all those kidnapped and now under their custody.
“We are happy that we have seen some releases of kidnapped victims from Zamfara and other States,” he said.
Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara in his remarks said that the states would provide grazing reserve for the herders for them to settle in one place in the zone.
“We are concerned that herders are always roaming around with their animals thereby exposing themselves to different kinds of hazards.
“The governors took a uniform measure, you should also take a uniform decision not to rustle animals, kidnap or kill anyone.
“You should immediately release all people in your custody in order to show the world that you have truly repented,” he said.
Speaking also at the meeting, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, stressed that nobody was allowed to attack or kill anybody in the name of vigilante or volunteer group.
He said that anybody caught killing innocent people would be arrested and prosecuted by the police.
The IG further warned that any herdsman that indulged in kidnapping or other illegal acts would equally be arrested by the police and made to face the full wrath of the law.
