Northern governors, monarchs meet, canvass state police to contain insecurity

• Arewa youths tackle minister over ‘assertive remarks’
• Troops kill scores of bandits, rescue 10 hostages in Kaduna

The Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Northern Traditional Rulers Council in Abuja, seeking the establishment of state police to tackle security challenges in the region and the nation at large.

Chairman of the forum and Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, said the meeting reviewed the security situation in the North and other matters relating to its development and resolved to support the amendment of the Constitution to accommodate the establishment of state police.

According to a statement, yesterday, by the Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr. Makut Simon Macham, the governor said the move would effectively and efficiently address the security challenges of the region.

NGF reiterated its commitment to the development of solar energy in view of the comparative advantage of abundant sunshine in the region.

Consequently, it was unanimously agreed that 2,000 megawatts of solar power should be harvested across the 19 states and Abuja with a view to harnessing the huge potential of solar power.

The gathering regretted the ongoing ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Universities) strike, which it believes, was more punitive in the region, as most of the students in the area attend public institutions.

The body, therefore, pleaded with the university teachers to “cooperate with the Federal Government in resolving the dispute.”

THIS is even as the Arewa Youth Vanguard, yesterday, faulted the “worst of insecurity is over” assertion of the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed.

The body described the claim as a mockery of the Nigerian populace.

The minister had, last week, said: “The worst of insecurity is over”, while briefing newsmen on the security situation in the country.

Mohammed had continued: “While the country may still witness isolated attacks on soft targets by terrorists, the security agencies have battled the agents of darkness and recorded massive victory against the terrorists.”

But addressing journalists yesterday in Abuja, convener of the group, Ambassador Zakari Hashim, identified with remarks of security expert, Adejare Adegbenro.

Adegbenro had submitted that the “time is not right to make what he described as “bogus statements” about the insecurity situation.”

ALSO, troops of Operation Forest Sanity have neutralised several bandits and dislodged camps during clearance operations conducted across some hard-to-reach locations spanning Chikun and Igabi councils of Kaduna State.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who made the disclosure in a statement, added: “The operation extended to Dakwala and Kunai Hills in the same Local Government Area (LGA), where more hideouts were cleared, though no contact was made with bandits.

“Another camp was similarly dislodged at a location known as ‘Daban Lawal Kwalba’ in Igabi LGA, after the troops overpowered heavily armed bandits guarding hostages.

“The troops, after clearing out the bandits, stormed the hideouts and rescued 10 kidnapped persons, who were chained and bound with ropes.

“The troops untied the hostages, who were identified as follows: Surajo Aliyu; Ayuba Yakubu; Ibrahim Abdulrasheed; Aliyu Mohammed; Magaji Tasiu and Nasiru Ahmed.

“Others are: Mohammadu lbrahim; Ayuba Abdulsalam; Kelvin Musa and Paul Patrick.”

He further said: The Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i noted the report with satisfaction, and thanked the troops for the rescue of the t0 citizens. The governor commended the troops for the relentless spirit displayed in the ongoing operations, and encouraged them to sustain these efforts to ultimate victory.

“Citizens are strongly advised not to harbour or provide medical aid to suspicious individuals carrying what may be gunshot wounds. Such cases are to be immediately reported to the Security Operations Room on these lines: 09034000060 and 08170189999.”