How to end Boko Haram in North East, by Yobe governor

Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State has called on the military to open or reinforce a safe haven for bandits who desire to repent.

While addressing participants at a Security Summit held at Government House, Maiduguri, Borno State yesterday, Buni said, “We should also be more forceful to seek and engage the general public in the quest for lasting peace. This is something that we are already doing in Yobe.

“Through deliberate public information and enlightenment campaigns, we should work to make members of the public active partners of our security agencies. This could be achieved by getting them to pass useful information whenever they notice any suspicious persons or movements.”

The governor urged security agencies to regard information reasonably provided as useful by taking the fight to terrorists’ hideouts.

He said troops should chase down leads and give members of public the confidence that their participation and contributions are factored and appreciated to end the war.

Meanwhile, Katsina State is re-assessing its recent decision to dialogue with bandits.

Governor Aminu Masari said the dialogue with bandits in eight frontline councils would be assessed and adjustments made to ensure that the state did not return to its dark days of insecurity.

Masari, said yesterday at a security stakeholders’ meeting that there was a need to ascertain the performance of every group involved in the peace initiative, including the government, repentant bandits and security agencies.

The state had witnessed security challenges in eight councils, with bandits perpetrating heinous crimes that include cattle rustling, killing, rape, and kidnapping. But the state government interfaced with leaders of the bandits, with Governor Masari personally meeting with them to discuss how to end the wanton destruction of lives and property.

The interface led to a peace initiative, which saw government facilitating the release of several bandits in police custody, while the bandits set free dozens of hapless citizens they had abducted during their raids.

Masari said the essence of the meeting was to review the security situation in the state since the dialogue was held and to ensure its sustainability for the socio-economic transformation of the state.