Zamfara state governor, Bello Matawalle says over 300 persons under the captivity of armed banditry in the state have been released with no ransom paid.

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.

Bello Matawalle stated these in Abuja on Sunday during the signing of about $1 billion Memorandum of Understanding with the President and Chairman, Board of Directors of Egypt-based African Export-Import Bank, Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah.

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

Prof. 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.