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…Committed to Ending Banditry Attacks in the State
Olabode Adaramola
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State, has urged the people of the State to support his administration and work towards ensuring the progress as well as development of the State.
In a New Year (2021) message to the people, Governor Sani Bello described the out gone year 2020, as not only challenging, but difficult, and called on the people to remain hopeful, steadfast and prayerful for a better 2021.
The Governor enjoined the people of the state to remain resolute in their support to his administration’s battle against insecurity, COVID-19 and determination to surmount economic challenges that was bedevevilling the state in particular and the country at large.
Governor Sani Bello noted that government’s proactiveness in tackling the arrival of COVID -19 proved effective in containing the spread of the pandemic in the state, urging the people to do more by observing the Protocols, with the intensity of the second wave looking more scary.
Security wise, he said, “both the State and Federal Government are working hard and evolving fresh strategies toward bringing it to an end, expressing displeasure over how banditry and kidnapping have made life unbearable for the people.
Governor Sani Bello, however, affirmed that the present administration under his watch has done a lot towards reducing poverty in the state through the promotion of agriculture and human development as well as added value in different other sectors”.
He reassured that all ongoing road projects in the state especially Minna- Bida road and all other township roads as well as electrification of ongoing rural areas would be completed before the end of his tenure.
He, however, enjoined Nigerlites to clarify issues with the government before making uninformed criticism of its policies and programmes in the open space adding, that the administration has and will always be positively receptive to constructive criticism from its people.
The Governor further reassured the citizens of the state of his administration’s efforts in ensuring that it does all that is expected of it, to bring about the expected development.
The Governor commended Nigerlites for the relative level of peace and harmony been enjoyed in the state even in the midst of the challenges experienced and call on them to sustain the equilibrium.
Promise to End Banditry Attacks in the State
The Governor gave the assurance in Kagara, headquarters of Rafi Local Government Area of the State, when a state government delegation, at the instance of the governor, paid a condolence visit to the Emirate over the recent bandits’ attack which led to the abduction and killing of the District Head of Madaka, Alhaji Zakari Ya’u Idris while the District Head of Gunna, Alhaji Abdulhamid Mohammed Danyaro was still in captivity.
Leader of delegation and Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Ibrahim Matane said Governor Sani Bello was deeply concerned and constantly in touch with President Muhammadu Buhari and the Security Service Chiefs in the country to salvage the state and other parts of the country that were under siege in the hands of the bandits and other criminal elements.
Matane, said, “the Governor has, in the past six months, been vigorously pursuing the presence of an Army Super Camp between the axis of Rafi and Shiroro local government areas of the state which are the most troubled spots”.
He attributed the abrupt withdrawal of the Special Forces that were engaging the bandits around Mariga, Rafi and Shiroro Local Government Areas of the state with positive results to other engagements, assuring that the governor was still in talks with the appropriate authorities for their urgent return.
The SSG, urged the people to be patient and support the government by giving credible information on any suspicious movement.
Also in his remarks at the occasion, Chief of Staff (COS), Government House, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe condemned those that have turned themselves as informants to the bandits, urging those who know them to expose them no matter their status.
Balarabe added that no sensible government would be happy with such quantum of mayhem and arson being meted out on its citizens, while assuring that government will continue to explore all avenues to end insecurity in the affected parts of the state.
The State Government’s delegation was received at the Emir of Kagara’s Palace by his representatives led by the Tafidan Kagara, Alhaji Mohammed Shahabudeen Isah, Walin Kagara and Alhaji Shehu Ibrahim Kagara, where they appreciated the government’s prompt visit to commiserate the emirate and the affected families.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Rafi Local Government, Hon. Ismaila Musa Modibbo said the establishment of a Military Base in the area will go a long way to end the bandits’ ungodly activities.
Modibbo thereby called for more funding and logistic support to vigilantes as they were giving the bandits a good fight.
He disclosed that no few than 18,000 Livestock have been rustled or killed by bandits adding that virtually all inhabitants of Rafi LGA have lost their sources of livelihood, stressing that, “if drastic measures were not taken, these daredevils would soon find themselves in Minna as there were various routes through the interior leading from Madaka to Maikunkele in Bosso Local Government Area of the State.
Some of the stakeholders of Rafi who appreciated the government and condemned the bandits’ acts included; the Village Head of Madaka, Ex Corporal Saleh Ahmed, Alhaji Hussaini Ahmed the Sarkin Gabas Kagara and son to the murdered District Head of Madaka as well as Labaran Ahmed a retired civil servant.
The State Government’s delegation was comprised of members of the State Executive Council, elected and political appointees from Rafi and other top government functionaries.
