Twenty-nine victims of kidnapping were recently rescued in Lere District of Tafawa Balewa local government area of Bauchi State through a joint security operation by the Police, Army, local hunters and vigilantes in the State.
Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, who disclosed this in Lere District on Monday during a support visit to the security operatives, further revealed that 67 bandits were killed during the security exercise led by the State Police Command.
While explaining that such exercise was being carried out in consonance with rules of engagement, warned traditional rulers, whom he accused of giving right of way and accommodation to the bandits in their domains, that anyone found in the act will have himself to blame.
He said that the errant traditional rulers, who compromised their duties for some inducements, are not only unpatriotic, but are even more dangerous than the bandits.
Governor Mohammed, therefore, unveiled the state government’s plan to establish an Internal Security Agency in which over 20,000 will be recruited and will be trained by conventional security operatives in tandem with his oath of office of securing the lives and properties of people of the state.
The governor emphasised the importance of collaboration between local hunters, vigilante groups, traditional rulers and security agencies in the fight against terrorism and criminal activities in Bauchi State.
Governor Mohammed also gave a token of N10million as donation to the over 200 hunters and vigilantes, who participated in the rescue operations of the kidnap victims, in addition to the provision of 30 motorcycles to the groups, assuring them that more motorcycles would be provided to them in due course.
Governor Mohammed commended the gallantry of the combined security team, and asurred them of continued moral and financial support in the efforts to secure Bauchi State, its citizens, and their properties.
Speaking earlier, the State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Musa Muhammed Auwal, expressed delight over cooperation from other security agencies in fighting crimes and criminality in the state, reassuring the state government and other stakeholders of continued maintenance of peaceful environment.
