Repentant bandits take advantage of peace deals to acquire more weapons with which they use to cause more havoc on citizens, Niger state governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, has alleged.
Bello said cash offered to repentant bandits to aid their resettlement after renouncing banditry is used to fester their operations.
A statement by Mary Noel-Berje, his chief press secretary, quoted the governor as vowing not to negotiate with bandits again during an interface with members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria(VGN) at Kasuwan Garba in Mariga Local Government Area of the state.
He however said those ready to genuinely repent would be rehabilitated and reintegrated into the society.
“I am here to thank the vigilantes, boost their moral and to offer more support from the state government so that they can continue to support the police and other security agencies in the fight against bandits and other criminal tendencies,” he said.
The governor promised to compensate families of vigilante members who lost their lives during confrontation with bandits.
He commended them for their efforts in complementing other security outfits in the fight against bandits, while urging them not to relent.
To improve their onslaught against banditry, the governor assured them that automatic Pump Action Guns and other sophisticated weapons will be provided for the vigilantes.
