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By Emmanuel Kwada
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Kaduna State Chapter, has expressed deep concern and consternation over the recent pardon granted to bandits by Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State. The MBF described the move as a “crude lack of empathy and sympathy” for the victims of the bandits’ heinous crimes.
The MBF described the move as a “crude lack of empathy and sympathy” for the victims of the bandits’ heinous crimes
According to a press statement released by the MBF, the governor’s decision to pardon the bandits is not only unjust but also a betrayal of the trust placed in him by the people of Kaduna State. The forum questioned the governor’s authority to pardon individuals accused of federal crimes, such as banditry, mass murder, and kidnapping.
The MBF also expressed concerns about the rehabilitation of the bandits, citing the failure of similar exercises in Zamfara and Katsina states. The forum noted that the bandits have been responsible for the displacement and occupation of several communities in Southern Kaduna, and that they continue to hold scores of people hostage and impose levies on farmers.
We are at a loss how these gunmen will return to the same communities that they have terrorized and pillaged and hope to live peacefully with those who survived their terror
“We are at a loss how these gunmen will return to the same communities that they have terrorized and pillaged and hope to live peacefully with those who survived their terror,” the MBF stated.
The forum called for justice and accountability for the victims of the bandits’ crimes, rather than celebrating the perpetrators as “repentant” terrorists. They also urged the government to take concrete steps to address the root causes of the banditry and to provide adequate support and compensation to the victims.
The forum called for justice and accountability for the victims of the bandits’ crimes, rather than celebrating the perpetrators as “repentant” terrorists
In conclusion, the MBF emphasized that the pardon granted to the bandits is a grave injustice and a relegation of responsibility to law-abiding citizens who have suffered at the hands of the bandits. The forum vowed to continue to advocate for the rights and interests of the people of Kaduna State and to hold the government accountable for its actions.