The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has raised an alarm that bandits could launch a bloody attack during the transition period in Nigeria.
The governor disclosed this while speaking during the presentation of a security report by the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House in Kaduna state.
El-Rufai advised that security operations against bandits should be increased in the remaining days of the current administration and beyond.
According to the reviewed 2022 annual and first quarter 2023 security reports, 1,266 and 4,973 persons were killed and kidnapped respectively in 15 months.
The tenure of the President, Muhammadu Buhari, and 17 governors will come to an end in less than 40 days, and there have been increased attacks by suspected terrorists and bandits in Benue, Zamfara, and Niger since the general elections.
In the past weeks, no fewer than 75 persons, including internally displaced persons, had been murdered in different communities by armed herdsmen in Benue State.
In March, bandits attacked the headquarters of the Maru Local Government in Zamfara, killing a divisional police officer and two others. Scores of people, including security operatives, had also been killed across several communities in Niger State by suspected bandits.
Speaking during the presentation, El-Rufai called for sustained simultaneous ground and air kinetic actions across the seven frontline states of the North-West zone and Niger, which had contiguous forest ranges and were most heavily impacted by the security challenge.
He said the operation was to prevent a dangerous lull during the transition period at the federal level, which the criminal outlaws could exploit.
The governor observed that the reports on the security situation in the state provided detailed data on the persistence of the security challenges in the state. El-Rufai said, “Though grim, these reports are published in fulfillment of the obligation of transparency that the government owes the residents of this state.”
El-Rufai also said citizens have legitimate expectations to be provided with consistently accurate accounts of what is going on and the measures being taken to address security challenges.
He added, “The two reports just presented by Samuel Aruwan, our Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, indicate the persistence of security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, and the unfortunate toll in killings, kidnappings, injuries, and threats to the livelihoods of our people. We regret the pain and losses, pray for the repose of the souls of those killed, pay tribute to the victims of various crimes, and reiterate our solidarity with them.’’
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