The Secretary to the Zamfara State Government, Abubakar Nakwada, has disowned a viral letter that suggested the state government was planning to disburse N1,378,000,000 to pay bandit leaders and media promoters in efforts to address insecurity.
The SSG told The PUNCH on Sunday that the document was fake, misleading, and false.
The letter, which went viral over the weekend, purportedly addressed to the state governor, was allegedly signed by the SSG, and it sought the approval of the governor for a total of N1.3bn to settle five bandit kingpins and six media promoters.
Part of the letter, titled ‘Re-North-Western Governors/Un-organised Security Summit in Katsina,’ read, “Your Excellency, banditry has brought bloodbaths and wanton destruction of lives, property, and the socioeconomic prosperity of our great state and requires government prompt action (sic).
“His Excellency may wish to take the cognizance of the fact that the level of insecurity in the state has now reached that of a dangerous cancer worm (sic) that has ravaged the fabrics of our social and psychological existence.
“In view of this urgent need and the directives by Your Excellency to provide funds to finance the state government reconciliation programme with bandits in order to bring the menace to an end, I wish to submit the proposal as follows for Your Excellency’s kind approval (sic).”
Three of the listed bandits were to get N200m each while two others were to get N150m each.
Notable among the listed “media promoters” was Sahara Reporters, billed to receive N100m.
But the SSG said the document was fake and that his signature and other top government officials’ were forged
He said the security agencies had been properly briefed and were tracking the source of the document.
Nakwada faulted the claims that money was paid to some media promoters under the guise of “reconciliation efforts” from the state Security Trust Fund.
“It is very crucial that we address this matter with transparency and urgency.
“Ordinarily, we should have ignored this, like we have ignored many other fabricated lies aimed at distracting the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal from its commitment to rescuing and rebuilding the state.
“But due to the sensitivity of security, which remains one of the priorities of this administration, we are compelled to make some clarifications,” the SSG said.
He added, “The state government has consistently announced its firm stance against negotiating with the bandits and terrorists. We still maintain the position that we will not negotiate with terrorists.
“Our administration has been unequivocal in its approach to addressing the security challenges facing our state.
“The fabricated document and the baseless claims it contains are not only distracting but also an attempt to erode the trust and confidence that the people of Zamfara have in Governor Lawal’s administration to restore peace and order.”
On Friday, the Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, also said the purpose of the document was “to discredit Sahara Reporters for its unwavering stance against corruption and government malfeasance.”
In a statement on X, the former presidential candidate said the circulation of the fabricated memo had also falsely implicated him as a beneficiary.
“We recognise the desperation driving these actions but assure the public that these allegations are unfounded and intended to blackmail Sowore and Sahara Reporters and like others before it, have failed,” he added.
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