News

Insecurity: Buhari Orders Security Agencies To Shift Attention To Zamfara

Published

4 years ago

Jan 22, 2021.

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered security agencies to make Zamfara state their priority in the drive to rid the country of insecurity and other criminal elements.

The president’s directive is sequel to the resurgence of banditry in the northwest state.

The directive was contained in a statement issued by Thursday by Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity.

In the past months, state has become a beehive of nefarious criminal activities and despicable attacks which have made many residents and travellers victims of kidnapping

In the statement on Thursday, Buhari was quoted to have ordered Babagana Monguno, national security adviser (NSA), to pay close attention to Zamfara in light of the activities of reinvigorated bandits.

“In a directive to the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (Rtd), the President ordered that there must be a clear pathway to ending the resurgent banditry that has continued to cost lives and the displacement of thousands of families from their towns and villages,” the statement read.

“Recall that recently, the Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Hon. Nasir Magarya, wrote a letter in which he appealed to President Buhari to intervene and stop the incessant killings by bandits in the State.

“In this respect, a meeting is soon to take place that will deliberate on security and the issue of illegal mining which is fueling the crisis in Zamfara State.

“In addition to NSA the convener, the meeting will be attended by Major-General Bashir Magashi (Rtd), Ogbeni Ra’uf Aregbesola and Architect Olamilekan Adegbite, Ministers of Defence, Interior, and Mines and Steel respectively.

“Also to attend the meeting are the Directors-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, and the National Intelligence Agency, NIA.”

Aside from scounrge of bandits and cattle rustlers, Garba averred that the level of impunity has been exacerbated by actions of illegal miners who are plundering resources of the state and operating in dangerous and destructive manner.

He said the meeting of the officials is expected to address these and associated issues of corruption, government oversight and lawlessness.