The government in Zamfara State, North-West Nigeria has imposed a series of bans on some economic activities in a bid to curtail armed criminal gangs carrying out killings, kidnappings for ransom and cattle rustling.
The bans by Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle include a directive to all fuel stations not to sell above ₦10, 000 fuel for individuals in the state; suspension of all weekly markets, except normal market activities of buying and selling for local consumption; and ban on more than two persons riding on a motorcycle.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, Zailani Bappa in a statement, said all filling stations in the state are “banned from selling fuel, except in Gusau and the 14 local councils headquarters. In addition, no eligible filling station is allowed to sell fuel of more than ₦10, 000 to a single customer.”
Bappa added that the sale of fuel in jerry cans should be disallowed in all filling stations, while roadside purchases, popularly known as the black markets are entirely banned.
He said the “Governor further announced that all weekly markets across the state are suspended, but normal market activities of buying and selling for local consumption are exempt from the ban.
“The Governor further ordered that the transportation of livestock to and from the state is henceforth suspended, while the transportation of food within and outside the state must be verified to authenticate its destination. Otherwise, it will be seized and taken to the orphanage.”
“The new rules further include the banning of riding on motorcycles and tricycles from 6 pm to 6 am, except in the state capital, which starts from 8 pm to 6 am. Furthermore, any tricycle that is covered will be stopped to verify its passengers, otherwise, such tricycle will be apprehended.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Zamfara, Ayuba Elkana, on Sunday, said that the security measures recently taken by the state government were not politically motivated.
Elkana, who spoke at a news conference on Sunday in Gusau, directed police personnel to ensure full enforcement of the security measures.
“It will be recalled that on Aug. 27, Gov. Matawalle, in his determination to stem the activities of criminal elements in the state, had announced about seven proactive security measures,” he said.
Elkana noted that the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, would commence implementation of the security measures on Aug. 30.
“We are going to constitute a joint task force which will be responsible for the full enforcement of the directives,” he stated.
The police commissioner said that the government and the security agencies were determined to end the lingering security challenges in the state, urging residents to comply with the security measures.