Governor Matawalle lauds role of Nigerian Airforce in Zamfara

The Zamfara State Executive Governor, Hon Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle MON (Matawallen  Maradun) has praised the Nigerian Air force over its positive roles in Zamfara peace initiatives which is yielding positive results.

The Governor showered the praise when he paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Saddique Baba Abubakar at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Air force,Abuja on Thursday, 18th June, 2019.

In a Press Statement issued by the Director General on Press Affairs, Zamfara state, Yusuf Idris, Governor Matawalle  was at the Air force Headquarters to commend the tremendous efforts of the Air force in Zamfara State and to call for more synergy between Zamfara State Government and the Nigerian Air force to strengthen and sustain the State Peace Initiatives which the governor introduced to negotiate the peaceful stoppage of all forms of criminality in the state.

According to the governot, since his assumption in office he has watched with keen interest the performance of the Air force in the State which he noted as quite encouraging. Governor Matawalle also maintained that his visit is purely to request for more working synergy in the ongoing  war against banditry.

He explained that the peace process embarked upon by his administration can only be achieved if all the Security agencies supported it with all the needed support.

He also informed the chief of Air Staff that a lot of success has been recorded since the commencement of the peace talk with the bandits and the local vigilante in the state as  total of 147 persons kidnapped at different times and locations of the state in the past months have  been freely released by their captors without any monitory or other conditions.

He happily said further that all the roads in the state that were hitherto taken over by the bandits are now accessible to road users with out fear of being attacked or kidnapped.

Governor Matawalle also said that several  Markets earlier closed from business are now accessible to all the warring factions and other citizens leading to zero attack throughout the state in the last three weeks.

Responding, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Saddique Baba Abubakar commended the Governor over his concern and commitment towards achieving lasting peace in the state and adding value to nation building.

The Air Chief further said that the Security agencies in the country are always happy with the level of the successes being recorded by the Zamfara state government through the peace talk initiated by the governor and assured that the Air force will support any initiative of Federal government, States and Defence Headquarters in order to restore peace in Nigeria.

He promised to deploy more regiment personnel that will complement the efforts of Zamfara state Government as Air force is committed to seeing the return of normalcy in the state and in all other parts of the country.

During the visit, the Governor was accompanied by the former Finance Minister who is also the Governor's Honorary Advisor, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda Gusau, Permanent Secretary office of the Executive Governor, Alh Kabiru Balarabe and Alh Abu Hali.


It will be recalled that the Airforce component of the Operation Hadari Daji in Zamfara state during a recent onslaught by the headquarters of Operation Hadari Daji, sustained intensive airstrikes and bombardments  of several armed bandits camps in Zamfara state, consequently forcing several bandits to embrace the ongoing peace initiative of the Zamfara state government.