- Warn traditional rulers, other stakeholders to avoid conspiracy and compromise
By Yemi Monday
In his resolve to win the war against criminals especially terrorism and banditry that worsening in his State, Bauchi Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir has offered his entire monthly salary to aid the fight.
The money, according to Governor Mohammed, is to be spent to wage relentless war against the activities of bandits in two Districts of his country home of Duguri in Alkaleri Local Government Area (LGA) of the State.
Bala Mohammed, who spoke on Saturday evening in Yelwan-Duguri when he paid a sympathy visit to the 37 victims who were kidnapped by the bandits in Duguri District, said: “With this, I have pledged my salary and allowance to my hometown for the time being for the use of all the vigilante and other security operatives in the area in fight against the bandits. Monthly, I will be giving N2 million to the two districts.”
“We are going to give the money, N10 million to about 200 vigilante and security agencies that went and rescued these people. Even the rescued are not forgotten, I give them N2 million.”
The Governor also donated 50 motorcycles to assist the local vigilante groups, hunters and other security operatives in the area fighting insecurity in his birth place of Duguri.
Bala Mohammed however commended the concerted efforts of the Police, Civil Defence Corps, the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Army for the manner they jointly acted in rescuing the over 30 kidnapped victims.
“They did it in a manner that is required within the best of professional or community engagement. All the kidnapped victims have been rescued except one that was shot and I was told that he is also okay,” the Governor explained.
The Governor said about 10 of the bandits were killed by the security operatives after putting so much resistance and appraised the gallantry of the residents who through the local vigilante, assisted the security operatives in the battle.
He commended the Commissioner of Police and Heads of other security agencies in the State for giving his Government the needed cooperation and support and for being transparent in their engagements.
The Governor then warned traditional rulers and other stakeholders to avoid conspiracy and compromise, observing that the bandits seems to have fertile ground in the area.
“These bandits are coming in and sometimes they have fertile ground from people that are around. We are working with the security agencies to bring CIDs who would be going into the villages to find out those people that are conniving with the bandits because they are worst than the bandits,” the Governor declared.
He also warned that anyone found compromising or caught assisting the bandits will be treated and giving the worst punishment than them.
“We are not going to allow anybody to come and drive us away from our ancestral land and other preoccupation, we would rather sacrifice our lives to ensure that we protect ourselves, and this is what is called Community engagement or policing”, he said.
The Governor while thanking all the security operatives for the effort, enjoined the rescued persons and the rest of the residents to continue to cooperate with the government and the security agencies by giving useful information that will help in the war against criminals.
According to him, despite being in the opposition party, his administration believes so much in the power of the federal government which has almost all the security apparatus.
“Without these people your son the governor is nothing, he must be seen with the police, with the Army, with the SSS and the Civil Defence because they are the signs of authority. Of course our hunters are there, you don’t have the obligation to take laws in your hands but certainly we thank our security agencies for their cooperation”, he said.
Bala Mohammed then enjoined Commissioners and other cabinet members of his administration to establish community policing in their respective areas, said all hands must be on deck to fight criminality.