ISWAP establishing camps in Zamfara community, govt raises alarm

Members of Islamic State in West African Province have been reportedly spotted establishing camps around Mutu village in Mada District, Gusau Local Government area of Zamfara State.

The Chairman Committee on Prosecution of Banditry Related Offences and member of the State Committee on Security and Intelligence Gathering, Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, said this at a conference in Gusau.

He said ISWAP members also entered the state through Danjibga-Kunchin Kalgo axis in Tsafe LGA of the state adding, that hundreds of armed men had pencilled down several towns and villages for attacks in recent times.

“The executive governor of Zamfara State Bello Muhammad Matawalle, has acted within the ambit of the law when he signed Executive Order 10, shutting down broadcast stations in the state. He acted within the ambit of the law based on Chapter 2, Section 14 and subsection 2b of the Nigeria Constitution and for security reasons.

“The powers of executive, legislature and judiciary are clearly spelt in the Nigerian constitution. Therefore the action taken was to make sure that the state is safe and secure unless if you are not a Nigerian and you don’t want to understand the context of the matter.

“The action taken by the state government was based on security reasons but not to muzzle free speech as being insinuated in some quarters. The security of people and property in the state is sacrosanct.

“We have seen what various interest groups have said: the NUJ, NBC, IPI and we understand their concerns but what the BON said is a personal attack on the executive governor of the state. Nevertheless, on behalf of the state government we are apologising for our action,” Shinkafi said.