By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Niger state government has expressed preparedness to restrategize on how to end continued killings in some Local Government Areas, while also promising a mouth watering reward for any one with useful information on the activities and movements of the terrorist groups.
Despite Presidential directive on the joint security forces to end siege by combined forces of ISWAP, Boko-Haram, Fulani militia/Armed bandits, the situation has not gotten any better as the groups have continued to kill, abduct and destroy properties of citizenry hence the resolve to ‘change tactics’.
Addressing journalists on Thursday on efforts being made to secure lives and properties in the affected communities in eight Local Government Areas, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mary Noel-Berje, said instead of improving, the security situation is devastating.
As part of efforts to end security siege, the state government established security situation room where credible intelligence information are gathered daily by security agencies for prompt and rapid response, adding however that even with that, nothing much has been achieved.
Mary told journalists that, “The state government, through the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Internal Security has announced reward for anyone who is ready to supply credible intelligence on the terrorists, their movements and activities”.
The activities of the armed bandits hibernating across 8 out of the 25 Local Government Areas of the state have caused a severe setback in government businesses as no meaningful development can thrive where there is no peace.
“We must acknowledge that the evil activities of these terrorists have brought setbacks in the actualization of government plans and programmes, including projects such as the multi-billion Naira Bobi grazing reserves, road construction and other on-going projects”.
Lamenting the continued killings, Mary said, “Governor Sani-Bello, more than any other government in the northern region has severally reached out to President Buhari and Service Chiefs in a deliberate attempt to bring back normalcy to these parts of the state.
“Some of the military operations in places like: Karamin-Goro, Sharan-Daji, Girgizan-Daji, Gama-Aiki, Alex-Akpatuma I & II, as well as Puff-Adder I & II, including the recent directive by the President for an extensive, coordinated military onslaught against terrorists, is the result of the Governor's constant consultations and reach out”. NNL.
