• Says eastern axis of state in the grip of fleeing bandits
• Calls for deployment of forces along borders with Zamfara
• President vows to flush out perpetrators

Sokoto state Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has said parts of the state are in appalling grip of bandits and kidnappers marauding and scaring the populace in recent times. He blamed

the situation on the influx of bandits and criminals displaced by the defective maneuvers of security personnel deployed, under Operation Hadarin Daji, to end their nefarious activities in neighboring Zamfara state.

These, according to Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state, has left the state “very vulnerable” to the deadly and inhuman activities of these criminal elements.

Tambuwal stated these on Friday when he received a high powered Federal Government delegation led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Muhammad Babagana Munguno (rtd), pointing out that the consequences of Operation Hadarin Daji has resulted, before now and in the last four days,  “in broad daylight” attacks and kidnappings “in some parts of Isa , Sabon Birni, Tangaza, Illela “and several other local government areas of the state.”

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Monguno’s team include: the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Maj. Gen. Samuel Adebayo, the Directors-General of the Department of State Services and the National Intelligence Agency, Yusuf Maitama Bichi and Amb. Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar respectively.

Gov. Tambuwal told the security and intelligence chiefs 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 curtail and contain those that would pander towards Sokoto state didn’t help the timing as well. So, the timing and the 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, appealing to 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.

Perhaps also in his capacity as the Deputy Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Tambuwal reiterated his counterparts’ commitment and support to the President in the  fight against insecurity and other evils and  made a specific mention of the support his administration had been giving to the apex government in his state.

“Here in Sokoto state, you can verify this from the heads of security agencies, there is nothing they have asked of us that we have not done. Absolutely nothing. Since the commencement of this administration, we have given security personnel in Sokoto state not less than 500 vehicles. We are also doing whatever it takes in terms of funding from our own end despite the lean resources that we have as a state,” he said.

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Earlier in his remarks, Gen. 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 with 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 less important. Every life of every citizen is important; and, it gives great concern to Mr President that needless losses of lives are occurring.

“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.

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“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’s delegation afterwards had about an hour closed door session with their host, his Deputy, Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’Iya, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Aminu Muhammad Achida, Chairmen of Isa and Sabon Birni local government area, heads of security agencies in the state, some traditional rulers and other top government officials of the state government.

Thisday