The Zamfara
State Governor, Bello Mohammed Matawalle said that the Federal Government has failed in its constitutional responsibility to protect the lives and properties of the entire citizenry.The Governor who expressed disgust over several lives that have been lost in the state due to serial kidnappings, and banditry operations, further lamented that the Buhari-led administration was not helping issues as far as security matters are concerned.The Governor disclosed this when he received a coalition of civil society organisations at Maradun, his country home.Matawalle maintained that he decided to implement arms for self defense, as a Governor who has no control over the military, police, and other security agencies.“That is why as a Governor who has no absolute control over the Army, Air force, police, and other security agencies, I asked the residents of the State to carry arms for self-defense.“We had dialogue with the bandits but it did not work, that was why we decided to close markets, shutdown telecommunication networks and sales of petrol, yet all these did not work,” he lamented.While advocating for an extension of the retirement age of the army, police, air force, and other security agencies to 70 years, Matawalle stated that if the Federal Government could extend the retirement age of medical doctors, university lecturers, and judges, it should consider doing the same for security personnel.He complained that most of the military and security operatives who were supposed to be helpful to society with their wealth of knowledge were retired prematurely.