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From Paul Orude Bauchi
Following the brutal killing of a 70-year-old man in Shaffa, Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State, by bandits, Governor Bala Mohammed has lamented that he is having sleepless nights over bandits.
A prominent kinsman of the governor, Katu Mai Dukkuna, was killed on his farm, while three of his grandchildren – two females and a male-were abducted.
This came a few days after several people were killed and some abducted in Toro, Alkaleri, Tafawa Balewa and several communities, prompting the governor to embark on affected communities to commiserate and assure of his administration’s commitment to end banditry.
The governor assured that everything humanly possible would be done to rescue those abducted. He expressed concern that the bandits have informants within, making it possible to kill and abduct.
Speaking in Duguri, yesterday, during a sympathy visit, the governor lamented that the killings and abduction were overwhelming.
“I am having sleepless nights that l am a governor and my people are being killed,” he cried out. This is where I grew up; this is where I came to this world and became whatever l became. It is nonsense for me to be whatever and my people are being killed.”
He called on residents to collaborate with his administration, to wipe out the unwanted bandits from the state.
“After all, our people have a culture of self reliance; our people are known for farming and heroism. I don’t know where we lost it, such that people would come and overwhelm us. You have to rebuild your courage, come out, instead of being killed in your rooms,” he stated.
The governor stressed that security reports revealed that there are informants within fuelling banditry in the State. He assured that the administration would not leave any stone unturned to expose and deal with collaborators within, no matter how highly placed they are.
The governor lamented that a lot of criminality was going on because the communities were far from the state capital, adding that bandits were attracted to economic activities in the communities.
He assured that the administration would continue to engage residents for a lasting solution.
