By Sani Wilson Enemona

The Death Penalty has been approved for anyone convicted of banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, cultism, or serving as a bandits’ informant in zamfara, by the Zamfara state Government.

Zamfara State Governor, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, announced this in a statewide broadcast on Tuesday.

The Governor explained that the new law was one of the measures adopted by his administration to tackle the act of terrorism experienced in the state and the northwestern region in general.

Matawalle expressed optimism that despite the pockets of attacks recorded here and there by bandits in the state recently, the latest measures are already yielding the intended results.

He further said many informants who have been a major impediment in the fight against banditry have been apprehended and are currently being interrogated before being prosecuted in accordance with the fullest extent of the law.

According to him: “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.

Governor Matawalle added that “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.”