Kebbi State Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has taken up the challenge of mobilizing local hunters and groups of invicibles (‘Yan Tauri) to operating jointly with conventional security services for decisive and incisive onslaught against bandits to subduing them.
Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu made it clear that as the Chief Security Officer of the state he was prepared to sacrificing his life to lead such attack by following the criminals to wherever they might be not only to rescue abducted students of Federal Government College Birnin Yauri but also to deliver final blow to banditry in the state.
The governor spoke with emotional patriotism this Saturday while addressing local hunters and ‘Yan Tauri groups who paid sympathy visit to him at the Government House, Birnin Kebbi, on the unfortunate kidnapping of students and staff at the FGC Birnin Yauri.
Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu extended general invitation to all local hunters and ‘Yan Tauri associations to massively mobilize themselves to confronting bandits at their hideouts and locations in the forest to putting an end to their activities of bloodshed and carnage.
The governor explained that discussions would be held with security agencies not to interfere with their war operational strategies, but warned that “enough-is-enough”.
He told the local hunters that as the governor of the state who took oath with the Glorious Qur’an to protecting lives and property of the citizenry, he would not stay sitted in the office while hardened criminals kept on killing, maiming of people and stealing their hard-earned possessions.
The governor revealed that some of the students and staff abducted by the criminals have regained freedom while combined security operation was on-going to rescuing the rest.
Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu commended the Army, the Police, the DSS, the Civil Defence, Vigilante and volunteer groups for remarkable performance against the bandits who have now been encircled with no room for escape.
The governor indicated that joint operation would be carried out by Kebbi State and its neighbours of Niger and Zamfara states against the bandits who were now using the axis for their nefarious activities.
He felt proud that his maternal uncle, younger brother to his dear mother, was still head of local hunters and among those on the visit to the Government House, this Saturday.
Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu commended President Muhammadu Buhari for expressing deep sympathy on the condemnable act of kidnap of students by the bandits as well as his support to Kebbi State towards overcoming the situation.
He thanked the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Jigawa State Governor, Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar for their presence during the visit of the local hunters to the Government House, this Saturday.
Governor Fayemi and Governor Badaru both addressed the gathering, informing their host that they were in Birnin Kebbi on behalf of other Governors to express sympathy and condolence to the government and people of Kebbi State on the abduction of students of Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri.
Governor Kayode Fayemi said all governors had resolved to strengthen security of lives and property of their people as they have sworn to do so.
The Ekiti State Governor commended Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu for his prompt response to the situation which facilitated initial rescue of some of the students and gave courage to security agencies to overwhelming the bandits.
In an introductory remark, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Alhaji Suleiman Muhammad Argungu, Jarman Kabi narrated that the local hunters and ‘Yan Tauri groups from various local government areas were highly disturbed about the activities of bandits and ready to offer their services to crushing them.
An elder of the hunters, Alhaji Sani Hukuma, Zauro, Zannan Gwandu affirmed readiness of all hunters to partaking actively in the fight against banditry in whatever location they might be.
Alhaji Zanna however urged the governor to look into the issue of the arrest of two members of the association, a man and a woman, who displayed their spiritual power with colossal impact against criminals but ended up in custody in Abuja.
Other leaders of the hunters and ‘Yan Tauri groups from Augie, Argungu, Bunza, Gwandu, Arewa and Birnin Kebbi, spoke about the preparedness of their members to engaging in the fight against banditry.
