87 per cent of Zamfara farmers back to the farms – CP

The Police Command in Zamfara says that 87 percent of farmers in the North-Western state have returned to their farms following an improvement in the security situation.

Mr. Muhammad Shehu, the Commissioner, confirmed this at a stakeholders interactive session held in Gusau on Monday.

“Banditry and other criminal activities have significantly reduced.

“Some of the bandits were killed; others are looking for windows to surrender themselves to the government.

“With this development, more food will be produced to address hunger in the country.

“The security agencies are more determined than ever; more troops and weapons will be deployed to the state to ensure that life and property are protected.”

Shehu called on stakeholders to sensitise their subjects against partaking in the planned national mass protest against the government.

He said that most of those mobilising for the demonstration were criminals focused on destabilising the country and causing anarchy.

“We all need to remind ourselves of the current security in Zamfara; we are managing to keep the peace. Our youths should not join any protest that could hurt our peace,” he said

In their remarks, the NLC Chairman in Zamfara, Sani Haliru, and the Vice Chairman, Jamaatu Izalatul Bidia Waiqamatussunnah, Mallam Umar Hassan, called on government to review its policy on fuel subsidy.

They claimed that the major factor responsible for the hardship in Nigeria was the removal of fuel subsidy, urging the President to have a second thought on the matter.

“We are not, in any way, supporting the mass protest, but it is constitutional. The government should address societal needs to stop the youth from protesting.

Also contributing, the Students Union Vice Chairman, Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda chapter, Mr Abdullahi Isyaku, decried the level at which students were dropping out of academic sessions because of high registration fees.

He claimed that most students sponsor themselves and keep struggling to feed themselves.

“The student loan scheme introduced by the Federal Government is yet to become a reality,” he pointed out.