Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle of Zamfara State has thrown his weight behind the death penalty on those convicted of banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and cultism in the state.

The Governor announced this after signing into law a Bill passed by the Zamfara State House of Assembly prohibiting and punishing terrorists, cattle rustling, cultism, kidnapping and other incidental offences.

Matawalle noted that under the law, anyone found guilty of aiding or abetting the crimes mentioned was liable to life imprisonment, twenty years imprisonment, or ten years imprisonment without the option of a fine.

He insisted that his administration was much more ready to battle the criminal elements in the state within the ambit of the law to secure the state and restore peace, especially in communities considered as bandits’ hubs.

The new law provides that any person found guilty of banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, cultism, or being an informant to the bandits is liable to the death penalty.

“Under the law, anyone found guilty of aiding and or abetting the crimes mentioned is liable to life imprisonment, twenty years' imprisonment, or ten years' imprisonment without the option of a fine."

“The most fundamental focus of governance anywhere in the world is security,” he stated.