President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to flush out notorious bandits’ leaders, Bello Turji and others who have been terrorising Sokoto and other parts of the north.
The President made the promise while condoling the government and people of Sokoto state over the spate of bandits’ attacks which had claimed so many lives in the state.
Buhari’s message was delivered by the head of federal government delegation to Sokoto and National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Muhammad Babagana Munguno (rtd).
“Mr President wants me to convey his profound condolence over the loss of all the citizens who have departed. He wants us to also express his deep sympathy as well as his determination that the perpetrators of this very gruesome, wicked activities are apprehended and brought to book.
“The very fact that the very top security echelon in the country is here is an indication that Mr President wants us to address this issue so that some form of comfort is given to the people of Sokoto state by a definite closure through a definite process in concluding what has happened to these unfortunate and innocent citizens.
“Mr President is deeply troubled that fellow citizens had to go through this trauma. He has charged to make sure that all the relevant agencies do not rest until we are able to flush out the perpetrators of not just these last two incidents that occurred, but also previous incidents,” he said.
Monguno, who thanked Gov. Tambuwal for cutting short an official trip to receive the Federal Government delegation at a very short notice, said they were in Sokoto “on a specific mission and instruction of President Buhari, “to condole you and the very good people of Sokoto state as well as His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, who apparently is in Abuja, over the unfortunate incidents that have been occurring over the last couple of weeks.
He explained that their visit “affirms the seriousness with which Mr President views the occurrence of the last couple of weeks, stressing that: “It has been unfortunate series of developments in which very innocent lives have been lost.”
“No life lost is one that is less important. Every life of every citizen is important; and, it gives great concern to Mr President that needless loses of lives are occurring,” he said
Earlier, Governor Tambuwal told the August visitors that: “Operation Hadarin Daji,” the precursor of the escalation of tension and crisis in Sokoto state “…was carried out without any blocking force around the neighboring states, particularly …Sokoto state.”
“Also, the timing of the operation, whereby, unfortunately, our security agents do not have enough equipment to move and contain those that would pander towards Sokoto state didn’t help the timing as well.
“So, the timing and way the operation was carried out left Sokoto very vulnerable.
“It does appear as if those bandits pursued from Zamfara state have relocated to Sokoto state. This is a very serious call for concern,” he said, this appealing President Muhammadu Buhari “to deploy more resources to Sokoto state.
“There is need for more boots on the ground. I am familiar with the situation at the center, but I believe that something can be done, and, that should be done urgently and expeditiously because our situation is getting out of hand,” he added.
