Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has expressed worry over the insecurity in the Northwest, stating that soldiers are now targets of bandits.
The bandits are becoming bolder; they attack military camps and ambush those on patrol, he said.
El-Rufai made this known while speaking in Kaduna, when the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd), led newly appointed Service Chiefs to meet with governors from the Northwest, religious leaders and traditional rulers over banditry and other security challenges confronting the region.
El-Rufai stated that security agencies need superior weapons.
According to the Kaduna governor, security should be the number one priority of the government and the collective responsibility of all citizens.
El-Rufai said: “This town hall meeting is not complete without other stakeholders because of the short notice. So, we agreed that this north-west be reconvened in the next two weeks. The date will be announced by the NSA and COAS,” he said.
“Bandits now have the audacity to attack the military men. Bandits have become vulgar. Those who are not informed believe nothing is being done to deal with them.
“We need to support our security agencies not with prayers, but with superior weapons. Security is a collective responsibility.
“All of us, the governors, are going round, talking with stakeholders to calm people down.”
