Niger State Government in North Central Nigeria, has concluded plans of engaging volunteers and joint government security personnel in a holistic operation to bring an end to banditry activities in parts of the State.
The combined security agencies, comprising of the Military, Police, Civil Defense, and Vigilante Corps are to rescue the Tegina 148 Islamic Pupils and others abducted by bandits in the area.The Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello , Mentioned this during a visit to boost the morale of the combined security team in Kagara , Rafi local government area of the state on Monday.
Recent report shows that banditry activities have resurfaced in Rafi , Magama, Shiroro , Munya Mariga Shiroro and other rural communities in parts of Niger State, where Students and other community members were abducted for ransom .
Governor Sani Bello said the government in Niger state has decided to take decisive action towards ending the bandits activities that has bedeviled parts of the State and other parts of North central and North western part of the Country.
“We have to try our possible best not to make them succeed in forcing us to change our normal lives, they started by displacing farmers from their farmlands, next moved to burning farms, then moved to kidnappings and forcing us to close our schools, now they have started attacking Islamic schools, only God knows what is next”, he said.
The Governor, who commended the security personnel for their efforts in fighting the bandits in the last few weeks, however, assured the combined security team of additional allowances and other logistics supports.
Abubakar Sani Bello who met with parents of the abducted Islamic School Pupils at the Emir of kagara’s Palace urged them to exercise patience as government is exploring all avenues to see to their safe rescue.
The Headmaster of the Tegina Islamic School Salihu Tanko Islamiyyah School, Mallam Abubakar Alhassan , who commenced the government for the decision taken, disclosed that 15 out of the 148 abducted people including three of his teachers have escaped from the bandits and are with the security agents in Kaduna State for onward handing over to the Niger State Government .
Ime N