Sani-Bello condemns renewed armed banditry in Niger

Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello has condemned the renewed armed banditry attacks on some communities in Shiroro and Rafi Local Government Areas of the state.

The reaction of the governor is contained in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mrs. Mary Noel Berje, where he expressed concerns over the unfortunate attacks, adding that the security operatives have been mandated to carry out a comprehensive manhunt on the criminals.

Gov. Sani-Bello while calling for joint security patrol in the state, made a passionate appeal to the military to utilise the vast forest (hideout of the bandits) along the state’s borders with Kaduna and Kebbi states by either establishing a formation or a training camp to checkmate their activities.

The governor, who noted that the criminals take advantage of the vastness and difficult terrain of the forest to unleash terror on innocent people, said the state government is fully supportive of the joint security taskforce to chase the bandits out of the state.

He disclosed that the state government is also reviewing security strategies along the Rafi Local Government axis, adding that deployment of the joint security task force will be intensified.

While sympathizing with the victims of the recent armed banditry attacks in Kukoki and Kusherki communities, Gov. Sani -Bello has since dispatched government delegation to the camp of displaced persons in Kagara, headquarters of Rafi Local Government of the state for safety.

The governor directed the State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) to immediately assist the internally displaced persons stationed in Kagara while the joint security task force restores normalcy in their communities.

He appealed to the affected communities to cooperate with the security agencies in the area by providing credible intelligence that will lead to the hideout of the bandits stressing that the issue of security is a collective responsibility.

Gov. Sani Bello, while expressing dismay over the way and manner the state’s security challenge is been overblown by the media, cautioned journalists against writing opinionated reports that makes the state seem ungovernable because of insecurity.