Nasir El-Rufai, Kaduna state governor, says the activities of bandits in Nigeria threatens the territorial integrity of the country.
Speaking on Wednesday at the presentation of the 2020 Annual Security Report in Kaduna, El-Rufai said government could not afford to be lenient with the bandits as they deserve to be wiped out.
He said government at all levels must urgently and decisively put an end to the activities of bandits, adding that banditry has greatly eroded the economy of the countryside.
“Banditry has severely impacted the rural economy and shaken the confidence of citizens,” he said.
“It has driven farmers from their land, putting food security at risk, displaced communities, stolen property and deprived people of their right to life.
“We must put a stop to these criminal acts and enable our people to live their lives in peace and safety. This is a most urgent task.”
El-Rufai said Kaduna will not dialogue with bandits or offer them any form of amnesty, saying they have made deliberate effort to challenge the unity of the country.
He said: “We will neither negotiate with criminals of any description nor support any grant of amnesty.
“Criminal gangs, bandits, insurgents and ethno-religious militias made a conscious choice to challenge Nigeria’s sovereignty and menace our citizens.
“These criminals must be wiped out immediately and without hesitation.
“I am assured by the recent directive given to the federal security agencies to wipe out such gun-wielding criminals by the president.”
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