Banditry: Bauchi Gov visits IDPs in Kashere, says communities threatened by 10,000 Bandits
By Samuel Luka,
Bauchi
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state has on Thursday, visited the internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled Mansur, Yalau, Futuk, Duguri, and Gwana communities of Alkaleri local government area of the state due to recent bandits attacks.
The governor while sympathizing with the IDPs sheltered in a government learning facility at Kashere, in Gombe State, described the situation as “very bad”.
The governor who appealed for urgent intervention from the federal government, said “our people have been pushed out by about 10,000 well-armed bandits”.
He further said that the bandits are recruiting locals and outsiders, including former illegal miners.
Mohammed praised Gombe State’s governor for hosting the IDPs and vowed to work with security agencies to protect the affected communities.
“We’ll meet with President Muhammadu Buhari tomorrow to get directives for the military and police to tackle the issue. We’ll use technology and other means to decimate the bandits”. The governor said.
The governor announced plans to recruit 2,000 youth into vigilante groups to be trained as forest guards, emphasizing community involvement in protecting themselves.
He thanked Kashere community for hosting the IDPs and apologized for any inconvenience caused.
“This is the first time we’re facing this challenge, but we’ll overcome it.” Bala Mohammed said.
Earlier speaking, the Bauchi state commissioner of police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu assured that more security personnels are been deployed to maintain law and order in the affected areas.
“I want to assure the people that we are committed to immediate restoration of peace and security in that environment. All strategies and arrangements have been put in place to ensure that peace and security returns immediately to that axis”, the CP said.
He vowed that the Bauchi Police command and other security agencies would not allow any space in Bauchi State to be an ungoverned space.