From Shuaibu Zubair Tatu, Birnin Kebbi
Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state has commended Communities and Groups in the state for the show of solidarity and support in the face of attacks by bandits in some areas in the state.
The Governor made the commendation when leaders of Fulanis from the 21 Local Government Areas of Kebbi State paid him solidarity visit at the Government House, Birnin Kebbi.
Represented by his Security Adviser,retired Major-,Garba Rabiu Kamba, the governor described the visit as a morale booster, assuring that efforts were being intensified to rid the state of bandits and banditry.
He also thanked other groups who visited and showed support and commitment to end the scourge such as Hunters Association, members of vigilante groups and the Invisibles.
He reiterated his resolve to personally lead the way in the war against bandits making life unbearable for the people in the State.
The Director-General of the Fulani leaders in the state, Alhaji Bello Aliyu Gotomo, told the governor that they represent all the Fulanis across the 21 local Government Areas of Kebbi State.
He said their visit to the Government House, Birnin Kebbi was in solidarity and support to the Governor for his rapid and prompt response to the ongoing rescue operation of the Birnin Yauri School Children.
Gotomo also said that while the Fulanis sympathised with the Governor over the Birnin Yauri School abduction incident, their presence in Government House was also an indication of their total support to the governor as well as their willingness to join the ongoing fight to rescue the students.
” We have all gathered here in solidarity with Governor Bagudu and to announce our willingness to join the war to rescue the school children.
” We are against banditry in totality, no matter who is involved, they are our enemies too. We are ready to support the security forces to crush them in the bush,”he said.
Gotomo dissociated the Fulanis from the criminals and cursed any Fulani who aided or collaborated in any form of banditry across the country.
The bandits, according to him, are making life more unbearable and miserable to fulani pastoralists, who he noted, had been victims of cattle rustling as well as farmers who could not go to their farms for fear of their dear lives.
He assured President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Bagudu of the resolve of the Fulanis to complement the effort of security agencies in subduing the bandits.
He prayed to Almighty Allah for an end to banditry in the country and safe return of all abducted staff and children to their families.
Alhaji Attahiru Kaoje, who is the State Chairman of the Fulani leaders in Kebbi state,while sympathising with the governor over the abduction of the children, also declared support and solidarity to the security agencies toward bringing an end to banditry.
He reeled out myriad of support accorded the fulanis by Kebbi State Government, to better their lives, including setting up of a religious sensitization committee to reorient the fulanis, especially in hamlets, on the essence of peaceful co-existence.
On his part, the Secretary of the Fulani leaders, Abubakar Bello Bandam Ardo,who spoke on behalf of Ardos ( Fulani Elders), also assured the governor of their unrelenting cooperation to rescue the school children.
He disclosed that the Fulanis had since been holding special prayers for Allah to bless the ongoing effort to rescue the school children.
