Niger Needs More Mobile Police Squads, Sani Bello Tells AIG

Disturbed by the ceaseless attacks and abduction of residents of Kumbashi and Kaffinkoro in Mariga and Paikoro local government areas of Niger State respectively, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has called for more mobile police squads in endangered communities to limit the influx of bandits from neighbouring states.

The governor made the request to the assistant inspector-general of police (AIG) Zone ‘7’, Aliyu Garba during his visit to the Government House, Minna.

The attacks in Kaffinkoro and Kumbasi have led to the abduction of dozens into a camp in Munya local government area sharing boundary with Kaduna State.

Governor Sani Bello told the AIG that the state had been enjoying relative peace from banditry attacks except for youth restiveness, adding that marching orders had been given to the security agents to deal decisively with the miscreants.

Apparently referring to the attacks on Kaffinkoro and other parts of Rijau, Mariga  Shiroro and Munya, the governor disclosed that cases of bandits’ attacks is reoccurring again in parts of the state and is becoming disturbing.

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The governor noted that bandits in large numbers invaded the Kumbashi area and engaged security personnel, adding that details of casualties are yet to be known.

He, however, said one of the commanders of the security agents paid the supreme price, saying that the bandits have moved to the Rijau area.

Governor Sani Bello thereby decried the inadequate number of security personnel compared to the size of the state.

“Unfortunately, because of the size of the state, we do not have enough boots on the ground. And we don’t have any special police forces around the Rijau area. We have some military personnel but their number is not much considering the wideness of the area couple with many entry and exit routes in the area,” he said.

The governor appealed to the AIG who was newly posted to zone 7 and also from Niger State , to make every effort towards addressing the situation.

Sani Bello said, “As AIG Zone 7 and a Nigerlite, you are in a better position to understand the terrain. I will at this point on behalf of the government of the state appeal to you to use whatever means you can at the headquarters to see that we get adequate boots on ground. We need more mobile squads to be posted to sensitive areas thereby limiting the movements of these bandits from neighbouring states into Niger State”.

He observed that the situation calls for very robust and swift actions, pointing out the need to identify the kingpins for necessary steps to be taken.

Earlier, AIG Zone ‘7’, Aliyu Garba, said his visit was to familiarise with the governor on how the police can collaborate with other security agencies to address the situation.