Nasir El-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna State, issued a warning on Wednesday, saying that bandits would use the country’s period of transition as an opportunity to carry out horrific attacks.

In light of this, he suggested that security operations against bandits be stepped up throughout the remaining months of the current administration and beyond.

El-Rufai spoke on Wednesday at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House in Kaduna, the state capital, during the presentation of a security report by Samuel Aruwan, the commissioner of internal security and home affairs.

According to the 2022 annual and first quarter 2023 security reports that were reviewed, 1,266 and 4,973 people were killed and kidnapped in 15 months, respectively.

In fewer than 40 days, the terms of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (ret. ), and 17 governors will come to an end.

However, after the general elections, attacks by alleged terrorists and bandits have intensified in Benue, Zamfara, and Niger.

Benue State’s armed herdsmen have murdered no less than 75 people in recent weeks, including internally displaced people, in several areas.

In March, bandits stormed the Maru Local Government headquarters in Zamfara, killing a divisional police officer and two other people.

Numerous towns in Niger State had seen scores of people, including security personnel, slaughtered by suspected bandits.

Speaking about the security reports provided by the state commissioner for internal security and home affairs, El-Rufai demanded sustained, concurrent ground and air kinetic actions across the seven frontline states of the North-West zone and Niger, which had contiguous forest ranges and is most severely affected by the security challenge.

According to him, the goal of the operation was to stop criminal outlaws from taking advantage of a potentially hazardous pause during the federal government’s transition phase.

The governor noted that the reports on the state’s security status gave specific information about how persistent the security issues were there.

El-Rufai said, “Though grim, these reports are published in fulfilment of the obligation of transparency that the government owes the residents of this state.

“Just as they have a right to updates on the progress in investments, revenue generation and other happy events, citizens have legitimate expectations to be provided with consistently accurate accounts of what is going on and on the measures being taken to address security challenges.

“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.’’
Government efforts

He continued, “As the numbers shown reveal, there has been a very minor year-over-year improvement in fatalities and other criminal incidents across the state between 2021 and 2022. We hope that with all of your combined efforts, this declining trend will quickly move towards zero.

“The Kaduna State Government does its level best to prevent these sad events through institutional measures and pragmatic actions on the ground.

“These measures include persistent pressures on the Federal Government to launch comprehensive and sustained military operations against the terrorists and criminal elements that are menacing our people and their lives, liberty and livelihoods.

“We note with gratitude that the military initiated offensive security operations against the bandits in the last half of 2022. As observed earlier, this helped to improve the security situation in many of our communities but these operations must obviously be widened and sustained as the most effective way to protect our people and uphold law and order.”

El-Rufai congratulated the Federal Government for finally giving the go-ahead for the start of the joint military and police offensives.

As they seek to flush out the crooks, he also praised the military and security personnel for their efforts and sacrifices.

The governor stated, “I want to emphasize that in our region, this critical objective demands a comprehensive and consistent sweep across the Niger and North-West regions for sustained success

“We appeal for an escalation of security operations over the 39 days remaining till the end of the tenure of this administration and beyond so that the change of baton at the federal level does not result in a dangerous lull that criminal outlaws can exploit.

“There is every reason to intensify and sustain simultaneous ground and air kinetic actions across the seven frontline states of the North-West region and Niger which have continuous and contiguous forest ranges and are most heavily impacted by this security challenge.

“On our part, the Kaduna State Government will continue to do everything within the powers of a state to enhance security. We have invested considerable resources and energy in managing security to the extent that the Constitution of our nation permits a sub-national.

“Our interventions since 2015 include supporting the federal security agencies deployed in our state with vehicles and other logistics, collaborating with other frontline states to fund military operations in the 2015-2016 period and investments in security infrastructure and technology.’’

In particular, the Army, Air Force, Navy, Police, Civil Defense, Department of State Services, and others were thanked by the governor for their ongoing assistance with the state’s Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs in the difficult task of securing the state.

The police in Benue State displayed nine alleged cattle rustlers on Wednesday in connection with the recent deaths in three communities in the state’s Apa, Otukpo, and Guma Local Government Areas.

No fewer than 130 people were killed in the series of attacks on the Igbobi, Umogidi, and Mgban settlements, and many more were left homeless.

When presenting the accused, the state’s police public relations officer, Catherine Anene, claimed they “specialized in rustling cattle that caused deaths in the state.

Anene said, “In recent times, the investigation into herder/farmer conflict in most local governments revealed that some hoodlums from both the herders and farms clans have been fuelling crises in these areas for their own gains.

There is a need to identify these criminal elements and deal with them in accordance with the laws.

“On 10/4/2020 at about 1700hrs, men of Operation Zenda JTF on patrol in the Guma Local Government Area intercepted and arrested one Terwase Nyion, aka Orjen, and three others while others fled from the scene.

“On 16/4/2023 at about 1700hrs, information was received that some hoodlums had attacked herders grazing in the Tarkaa Local Government Area and made away with some cattle.

“Police detectives in the area immediately stormed their hideout and arrested the following persons: Terdoo Tyo, Meryima Dziegh, Jimeshio Dziegh, Tahar Dziegh and Mercy Iyio, who was already preparing cow meat in the kitchen.”

The investigation, according to the PPRO, showed that the syndicate frequently worked with criminal herders to rustle livestock, sell them, and split the revenue.

“They go back to the same victims (herders) to deceive them that their cattle were rustled by farmers so as to create crises and have more opportunity to loot from innocent persons,’’ she added.

Four cows and a locally made revolver loaded with one round of live 9mm ammunition were also found with the gang, the police spokeswoman said, adding that “the suspects confessed to being a vicious syndicate made up of herders and farmers.”

Anene claimed that the state’s police commissioner, Wale Abass, denounced the malicious act that sparked crises in several regions of the state and urged herders and farmers to immediately report similar occurrences to the police.