By Ankeli Emmanuel (In Sokoto State)
Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has urged the federal government to order a comprehensive simultaneous clearance operation against bandits operating in the hinterlands of Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Kebbi, and the Niger States.
Tambuwal who spoke during a round-table session with journalists in the State further appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a State of Emergency on bandits hideouts as a means of encouraging our security forces to deal decisively with them.
While noting that the President should publicly declare bandits as terrorists to allow for legal backing in dealing with them, Tambuwal equally maintained that all informants are also kidnappers and bandits and should be treated as such.
"Informants are also kidnappers and bandits, as there could be no greater sabotage to the fight against bandits that are enemies of humanity than informants".
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While appealing to Nigerians to collectively see insecurity as a national problem and not to politicize it, Tambuwal, who was the Speaker of the 7th National Assembly and now governor of Sokoto state, also maintained that bandits do not profess any religion or political party.
"These bandits do not believe in any religion, tribe or party. They do not even know what they are doing. They have no ideology, they are rather hardened criminals that must be treated as such".
Talking on why he proscribed the self-styled defenders of the people also known as "Yan Sakai" in volatile communities, Tambuwal disclosed that their activities were brewing more reprisals.
The governor however added that he had advised earlier that they joined approved vigilante groups hence they cannot go on their own accord to fight bandits without the support of the conventional security agencies.
Tambuwal who further stressed that he is deeply pained by the activities of bandits majorly in the eastern flank of Sokoto state added that it was heightened by security operations in Zamfara state. NNL.
