By Abdullahi Alhassan
As part of his efforts to combat rising insecurity in Zamfara State, Governor Bello Mohammed (Matawallen Maradun, Shattiman Sakkwato) has announced a slew of new measures aimed at reining in the state’s banditry.
All filling stations in the state will no longer be able to sell fuel, with the exception of Gusau and the 14 local government headquarters. Furthermore, no eligible filling station may sell more than N10,000 worth of fuel to a single customer.
Similarly, all filling stations prohibit the sale of fuel in jerry cans, and roadside purchases (also known as the black market) are prohibited.
All weekly markets across the state have been suspended, but normal market activities such as buying and selling for local consumption are exempt from the ban, according to Governor Matawalle.
The government also ordered that livestock transportation to and from the state be suspended, and that food transportation within and outside the state must be verified to authenticate its destination, or it will be seized and sent to an orphanage.
The new rules also prohibit riding motorcycles and tricycles from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the state, with the exception of the state capital, which operates from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. every day. In addition, any covered tricycle will be stopped to verify its passengers; otherwise, it will be apprehended.
Governor Matawalle reaffirmed the prohibition on more than two people riding a motorcycle at the same time and warned that those who disobey the law risk being shot at by security personnel.
The Governor urged all citizens in the state to follow the rules in order to avoid unfortunate incidents, as security personnel will be able to treat offenders as suspected bandits. He stated that a committee will be formed to ensure compliance in order to bring more sanity to our communities.