Worried by the spate of abductions by bandits in North-west Nigeria, the state governors in the sub-region said they have ignored their political differences and united against terrorists who have made the zone unsafe.
Speaking on Saturday at the graduation ceremony of 2,600 operatives of Sokoto State Community Guards Corps (SSCGC) in Sokoto, the state capital, which was attended by the North-west governors, the Chairman of the North-west Governors’ Forum and Governor of Katsina State, Dr. Umar Dikko Radda, stated that they have united against terrorists who are terrorising the zone.
Radda stated that the governors in the region had resolved to work together as a force to clear the region of terrorists.
“We have resolved to work together as a team, despite political differences, to save our people from the menace of insecurity,” he added.
“In the fight against banditry, there are no divisions such as All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), but only a unified North-west.”
He stressed that the well-being and progress of the region were the main concerns of the current leadership in the region.
Radda noted that with the launching of the community protection guards in Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states, the remaining states of Kebbi, Jigawa, Kano, and Kaduna would follow suit.
In his speech, Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, expressed appreciation for the successful screening and training of the community guards to address insecurity in the state.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to ending banditry in the state and improving infrastructural developments.
On their part the Governors of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, and his colleagues in Benue and Plateau states, Caleb Mutfwang and Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia said terrorists do not discriminate in their operation, hence the need to collectively unite against them.
They urged President Bola Tinubu to deploy state resources in fighting insecurity.
On his part, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, lauded the governors for their commitment to tackling insecurity in their domain.
He noted that those who kill others in the name of going to paradise will never see God, stressing that God will never support shedding innocent blood.
He enjoined governments and security agencies to investigate the immediate and remote causes of insecurity to enable them to find lasting solutions to it.
The eight governors of Kano, Zamfara, Kebbi, Kaduna, Benue, Bauchi, Katsina, Plateau states, and the Deputy Governor of Jigawa State attended the event.
Chuks Okocha, Olawale Ajimotokan, John Shiklam and Onuminya Innocent
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