- As Governor Bala Mohammed presents N10m, 30 motorcycles to support fight against insecurity
By Yemi Monday
Combined security operation by local hunters and vigilantes in Lere District of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area (LGA) of Bauchi State has led to the killing of 67 suspected bandits and kidnappers while 28 victims were safely rescued during the operation.
The disclosure was made by the Sarkin Lere, Alh Jamilu Aliyu Bawa while briefing the State Governor, Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir on the security situation in the area in recent weeks.
The Sarkin Lere stressed that the operation was an effective and efficient collocation between the local hunters and vigilantes while the Police, DSS and Army provided the required technical and intelligence support.
He also disclosed that 28 kidnapped victims were successful rescued unhurt and have been reunited to their respective families without paying any amount as ransom though the kidnappers had demanded for various amounts in Millions.
He assured that members of the vigilantes in the area are battle ready to ensure that the bandits were completely flushed out while the remaining victims still in captivity were safely rescued.
In his response,Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed commended the bravery of the combined security operatives for taking the bull by the horns to challenge the bandits in their hideout and smoked them out.
An elated Bala Mohammed announced the donation of 30 motorcycles and the sum of N10million as support for their efforts in rescuing kidnapped victims and stopping banditry.
The Governor said that there is no hiding place for criminals in Bauchi state and commended the people of Lere and Tafawa Balewa local Government area for supporting security agents in that regard.
In his remarks, State commissioner of Police CP Awwal Musa Mohammed said that security agents would continue to support any community that is out to assist in that regard.
Awwal Musa assured that the remaining kidnapped victims will be rescued unhurt while the bandits will be cleared to make the area free for the people to live peacefully.
He also called for support and cooperation from the people of the state by way of volunteering useful information that will lead to arresting the criminals operating within the communities.
The Commissioner disclosed that 8 riffles were successfully retrieved from the bandits during the operations.
Caretaker Committee chairman of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, Samaila Wakili thanked Governor Bala Mohammed for his love and concern for the people, pledging their unalloyed loyalty and support.
According to him, “For over 41 days now, there is no single day that people are not being kidnapped or our roads blocked by armed robbers, some of them are even killed. This has caused us great trouble.”
“We kept meeting and discussing on how to address these issues and at the end of the day, Commanders of Vigilante groups and hunters, saw that it was getting out of hand. They requested us to seek for permission from security agencies to allow them confront the bandits in the bushes,” he added.
The Caretaker Chairmen concluded that, “And Alhamdullilah, we recorded great success. They were able to arrest 36 of them.”