President Muhammadu Buhari has reassured Nigerians that ending banditry remains a key priority of his administration, even as some Nigerians staged a protest in Abuja over alleged government indifference to the recent spike in reported incidents of banditry and kidnappings in some parts of the country. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement on Saturday, said Buhari was committed to do whatever it takes to ensure the country’s security system confronts these public enemies with merciless determination.
While expressing his condolences with all those affected by the unfortunate events, the President described as ridiculous allegation of indifference being levelled against him in some quarters. “How can I be happy and indifferent to the senseless killings of my fellow citizens by bandits? I am human and I understand the pains of the victims and their families who have been traumatized and impoverished by constant ransom demands by bandits,” Buhari said.
“There is no issue that dominates my mind every 24 hours like security, because as an elected President, protecting life and property remains primary function of my administration. The politicization of tragedy reveals the darkest sides of our primitive politics. Almost every week, I summon my security chiefs to get an update on the strategies being devised to defeat these mass murderers. It is therefore ridiculous to suggest that I am indifferent to these killings.”
“I have ordered rapid and robust deployment of troops to all the areas currently under attack from bandits and we are determined to tackle this challenge ferociously until these remorseless killers are crushed and utterly defeated,” Buhari said.
He however, called on communities affected by banditry to support and cooperate with the security agencies, particularly the recently launched Operation Puff Adder to battle bandits and kidnappers.
The President said it was regrettable that bandits had informants within some communities and utterly reprehensible that certain communities had signed protection deals with bandits at the expense of other communities, thereby creating complications and frustrating government’s intervention.
He appealed to communities to report suspicious movements of the bandits into their areas within the shortest available opportunity, especially considering the fact that “intelligence is critical to detecting, frustrating, neutralizing and defeating the criminals.”
The president’s statement came after at least 50 people, including several members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), in Zamfara State were killed in Kaura Namoda by rampaging bandits. The mass slaughter came on the heels of the robust security action plan tagged, ‘Operation Puff Adder’ launched by the Ag. Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu aimed at flushing out criminal elements across some states of the federation, Zamfara inclusive.
The Operation, which is being carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Department of State Services (DSS) and involves massive deployment of well-trained, well-equipped and well-motivated personnel and combined operational assets from the various security agencies, is tailored towards ridding the country, especially the Kaduna – Abuja Expressway, Kogi, Katsina, Niger and Zamfara States of all forms of crimes and criminality.
During the inauguration, which took place at katari Bishin District, Abuja – Kaduna Expressway, the IGP, while noting that no police anywhere in the world, no matter how well-trained, equipped or motivated, can solely achieve its community security and safety mandate without the support of the community, called for the full support and cooperation of the civil populace, particularly, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth associations, market bodies, cultural associations and professionals among others in the fight against criminals especially kidnappers, armed robbers, cattle rustlers amongst others.
The IGP also made a special appeal to drivers, commuters and indeed all citizens that may come in contact with police officers deployed for the operation to cooperate with them and show understanding in the interest of public safety.
The police boss however, sounded a note of warning to persons who engage in criminal activities, especially along the Abuja – kaduna Expressway, to give-up their nefarious activities and embrace other legitimate means of livelihood or face the full consequences of their actions.
