Worried over another growing threats of major outbreak of insecurity in the north west region of Nigeria, Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari, has called for collaboration between Nigeria and her northern neighbour, Niger Republic to curb the issue of insecurity in the country.
This is just as the Governor has dismissed need for further dialogues with the bandits currently ravaging the region, saying that previous efforts did not produce the desired result.
Yari who noted that it is counter productive to handle insecurity in the region on state by state basis, said “ It is not just a state by state matter but a regional problem, because we are surrounded by forests.
“The point is, when Katsina puts pressure on the bandits they will run into the forest in Zamfara, if Zamfara puts pressure on them, then to move to Minna or Birnin Gwari. So this is the issue, so there is need for collaboration.”
“We have Kuyambana to Rugu down to Maradi Republic. The bandits are taking advantage of the fact that we are living like an Island because we a surrounded by forests from Sokoto we have Basuguma around, in Kaduna, Birnin Gwari, Niger, we have Kuyambana Dansado forest there, in Katsina, we have Rugu and at South East of Zamfara where we have Maradi, we have forest there”
Banditry ravaging states in Zamfara , recently spread their activities to Kaduna, Katsina and Sokoto, as well as Niger state, that is bordering the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
Yari said there was need for Nigeria to work with Niger Republic” We have to collaborate”
“I know our security chiefs meet quarterly to review their performance, the gain and the loss, the same thing goes for our brothers in Maladi. I think the operations need to be carried out simultaneously because the issue is we are surrounded by a forest”
“So the soldiers need to be equipped with the equipment that can stand the test of time. Yesterday (Monday), when we were having our security meeting, we could understand the constraints of the security personnel that are on ground there.
“We are definitely going to collaborate, especially since I am running on the last lap of my full tenure, I will ensure that in these months that is left, we will leave behind a peaceful state for the new administration that is coming in.
Speaking on equipment for the Nigeria security agencies currently battling the bandits in the region, Yari revealed that “federal government has already given procurement contracts, inter-government transaction to the United States, China and other European countries.
He disclosed that the funds were sourced from the $1 billion Nigeria Governors Forum, approved to support the federal government’s effort in equipping the security agencies.
“We believe the equipment will soon come into the country and it is our hope that the equipment will be used so that this worrying situation that we are will become history.
Speaking on dialogue, Yari said he had told the people that, it will no longer take place during his time.
According to him, “ I have done that three times but it did not work. This is in the sense that we know their capacity. For instance, during the first dialogue, they invited some of our team, army, DSS, police and my chief security officer as well as some traditional rulers representatives and we have seen what they have.
“They are in control of the kind of weapons that the Command In Zamfara State does not have. In one armory alone, they have over 500 AK47, we saw it.
“Our people were even given chance to take pictures. But when we said we will dialogue, offer amnesty, that they should surrender their arms, I can tell you till date we did not get up to 90 AK47, so it is a deceit. That is why I said no more dialogue during my tenure.
“During dry season they will look for dialogue because they know the security can get access to anywhere in the forest and they have no place to hide.
“But when the rainy season comes and the forest becomes thicker, they will return to their normal practice. That is why I said there has to be show of force before anything else. I know that in any war, eventually you have to come to the table and dialogue but the situation we are right now sincerely speaking, dialogue is not needed at this point in time.
Also speaking on the issue, his Katsina state counterpart, Aminu Masari said the state had promised the people of Kastina that they will be taken to the next level.
According “ they voted us on the basis of those promises and we are happy to say that we have done more than 70 per cent of what we promised the people of Kastina.
“We promised them that we will continue the agenda on educatio; health; agriculture, infrastructure , security and because what we have done in the last four years, they believed us and massively voted for us.
Masari said he was already working with Security Chiefs to tackle banditry in the state.
“Part of what we are doing is that I have seen some security chiefs; before I leave Abuja, I will see the IGP and the DG DSS to further discuss and develop on what we are doing with the military and the people that are on ground presently. It is not only about deployment; it is about strategy.”
Tony Ailemen, Abuja
