Niger state Governor and Chairman North Central Governor’s Forum, Abubakar Sani Bello has said local militia, community vigilante groups and local hunters must collaborate with security agencies, in a renewed strategy, to engage and completely chase away kidnappers, cattle rustlers and armed bandits in the country.
The Governor stated this in Zuru, Kebbi State where he was special guest of honour at the Maiden Civic Reception organised by the Zuru Patriotic Forum in honour of Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah; Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) and Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State.
Governor Sani Bello maintained that a radical approach had become necessary in order not to allow irresponsible miscreants continue to unleash terror on our people and subject our communities to their whims and caprices.
He disclosed that, the Governors of the most affected states of Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger were in talks to perfect the new strategy in order to address the situation that has hindered development and deprived the people of their means of livelihood.
“We must not allow them to send us out of our respective homes. We have to defend our territories, it has started in Niger and we have started recording success in that direction”, the Governor stated.
Governor Sani Bello called on Traditional Rulers and title holders to organise meetings regularly in their communities to discuss security situation and check the influx of unknown persons into their domains.
“The time has come that we must stop this madness in collaboration with our security agencies. Enough is enough”.
In his remarks, one of the awardees, who spoke on behalf of others, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah thanked the organisers of the event for recognising their immense contributions to the country and service to humanity in general and assure that they would not relent.
Senator Na’Allah challenged the Zuru Patriotic Forum and, indeed, other prominent sons of Zuru to strive and roll out programmes that would take their children away from the streets back to school in the overall interest and development of the area.
He disclosed that efforts were been intensified towards the actualization and establishment of the Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru.
While underscoring the importance of the event, Senator Ali Ndume corroborated the views of Governor Sani Bello on the growing security challenges in the region and emphasized the need for urgent action.
Senator Ali Ndume expressed displeasure over the inability of government to lawfully charge and punish all those apprehended in connection with these heinous crimes been perpetrated against humanity.
He expressed optimism that the new strategy been adopted by the Governors will work and called on the people to cooperate with security agencies as the fight against criminal elements can only succeed when there is sufficient intelligence reports on them.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Zuru Patriotic Forum, Alhaji Sani Yusuf Tadi disclosed that the association is a platform for uniting the people irrespective of their class status, geopolitical and socio-cultural divide.
Alhaji Yusuf Tadi said the Forum organized the civic Reception to honour men who have distinguished themselves in service to humanity, and called on government at all levels to intensify the fight against insecurity in the country.
Highlights of the event were the presentation of Awards to the Senator, Attorney General of the federation and Governor of Kebbi state, while different cultural groups entertained the gathering.
