300 kidnapped victims regain freedom, says Zamfara Gov


-Signs $1 billion MoU with Afrexim Bank

By Pat PA Okon

Over 300 persons kidnapped by armed bandits in Zamfara State have been released with no ransom paid, Gov. Bello Matawalle, said in Abuja on Saturday.

According to him, for the first time in four weeks, there had been no report of any incident like kidnapping and killing of citizens following the negotiations between the Government and criminals.

The Governor stated this during the signing of about $1 billion Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the President and Chairman, Board of Directors of Egypt-based African Export-Import Bank, Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah.

The $1 billion, Afrexim Bank said, was for investments in Agriculture, Power, Solid Minerals and Manufacturing,

Oramah said there was no reason why Zamfara State would not be able to produce cotton as Burkina Fasso, Mali or Republic of Benin which is presently the largest producer of cotton in Africa.

Matawalle said, “Our administration is committed to giving a fully secured State and we have started that by engaging the bandits in peace talks, for which they have accepted to lay down their arms".

"As at today, Mr. President, we have secured the release of over 300 people that were under captivity. The securing of the release of these people was done without any commitment; no single kobo or ransom was paid to the bandits".

“We started this discussion just about two weeks ago when we met with some Afrexim Bank people in Dubai with the Managing Director of Heritage Bank for which he promised to deliver our message to the bank. Within that week, he contacted the Afrexim Bank and the Presisent decided to come to Nigeria".

"Zamfara State, as you are all aware, had so many issues before my emergence as the Governor, for which reason and to limited time, just (within) a month, God helped us to tackle some of these issues".

"Today, we can call Zamfara State as a peaceful state in Nigeria. For your information, for the first time in four weeks, there has been no report of any incident like kidnapping or killing of citizens".

“So we assure you that Zamfara State is safe for investors, they can come to the State. They can come to the State and the Government is committed to making sure that everything is put in place to guarantee their security".

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