From Abuja.
The Federal Government says it is irrevocably committed to ending banditry in North West part of the country.
FG said the meeting was in continuation of its resolve against banditry, kidnapping, cattle rusting, and other crimes/criminality in the country, especially in the North-West.
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, stated this in Katsina while speaking at the meeting he held with stakeholders with a view to checking activities of bandits and restore peace to the area.
The Director of Press/Public Relations, Ministry of Interior, Mohammed Manga, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.
He qouted Aregbesola as saying that insecurity in that region remained heightened in the past decade, adding that the the development was a major concern/challenge of governance to the Federal Government.
Aregbesola said that the stakeholders were in Katsina to seek cooperation with the state government and people of the state on how to bring an immediate end to the menace and to restore normal life to the people.
The minister said:“Our pledge to you here today is that, we are ready and committed to this mission.
“As we all know that no military campaign can succeed without the cooperation and support of the people, our mission here, therefore, is to meet with the stakeholders’, listen to you and work out how we can best work together to succeed in this endeavour.”
According to him, banditry has been defeated and exterminated in the past, stressing that and President Muhammadu Buhari,by the grace of God, is going to achieve such feat.
He assured that the nation’s security architecture would isolate them, cut off the links and supply of the bandits, hunt them down, adding that except they repent and turn from their evil ways, they would be crushed and exterminated.
The minister reiterated that the President and members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), were in great pains over the wanton killings, theft and destruction being perpetuated by the criminals.
To the people of Katsina state,he said:“I am assuring you that all the total, brutal and ferocious might of the Federal Government will be brought on them.
“The Nigerian security machine will be unleased in its fury, the way we have never seen before.
“The sickening criminal acts of these evil people will be brought to an end and all citizens will have assurance of peace and safety once again.”
He noted that the security services had so far done a good job, going after the bandits and halting them in their tracks.
The minister commended them for their doggedness as well as the efforts of the local vigilantes who put their lives at great risks, out of uncommon patriotism and concern for their homelands, communities and people.
The Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari, assured that the state would give total support to the Federal Government in its bid to stamp out crime and criminality in the state.
He commended the Buhari led-administration for the bold initiative aimed insecurity in the area,noting that it would go a long way in stamping out the menace from the country once and for all.
Also, the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Dingyadi, extended the Federal Government’s condolences to the families of those that lost their lives and property.
However, after an exhaustive deliberation, the meeting therefore, requested for more of Federal Government’s presence in the state, engagement of local vigilantes who were closer to the people and ready to respond at a short notice.
It also urged Police, Civil Defence and other security agencies to take new community based actions to identify all bandits.
The meeting, however, urged government to utilize the forests harbouring bandits and deploy more Agro Rangers personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to enable people access their farms, among others.
