By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Worried by the renewed hostilities by suspected armed bandits and others, the Commander, Corps of Artillery, Kontagora, Maj-Gen Zakari Abubakar has convened a maiden security/stakeholders’ meeting to deliberate and fashion out ways to end armed banditry and related vices that has bedevilled Niger state.
“Security is and should be everybody's responsibility and we must work together, regardless of our professional calling or background to restore peace in our communities", he said, adding that peace is a universal language and prerequisite without which no meaningful development can be achieved.
Maj-Gen Zakari made the declaration in his opening remark at the stakeholders meeting on how to tackle security challenges facing Niger state, Niger-North (zone C) in particular.
The Army Chief told the gathering which included; heads of security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, politicians, retired military officers and members of the academic community from Kontagora, Rijau and Mariga Local Government Areas that all hands must be on deck to achieve desired results.
Participants must set aside their differences, engage in open and honest dialogue and commitments towards finding lasting solutions to insecurity.
To achieve crime-free society, Maj-Gen Zakari said credible and timely intelligence sharing among stakeholders is critical to counter the activities of armed bandits and other criminal elements.
While calling on religious leaders to intensify prayers for divine intervention peace and unity in the country, Zakari called on local government chairmen and community leaders not to relent in supporting security agencies who endanger their lives to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria.
The Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, commended the Commander for the stakeholders meeting which he said was the first of its kind in Kontagora.
Expressing confidence that the forum would strengthen ties among stakeholders for enhanced operational synergy, the Speaker highlighted the complex nature of insecurity in the state such as kidnapping, cattle rustling and communal clashes.
It is rather worrisome that criminal networks often operate across local, national and international routes, the Speaker observed and called for strong political will to end their siege.
Also speaking, Maj-Gen Salisu Sa’id (rtd) urged residents to refrain from aiding or collaborating with criminal elements without which it would be difficult to tackle.
Expressing worry by the level of harm done by armed bandits, Salisu encouraged citizens to, "Help security agencies by providing credible information that will help them dismantle armed bandits networks".
In a remarks the Commander of the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Maj-Gen John Sokoya re-echoed the call for enhanced cooperation between communities and security forces in addition to timely intelligence gathering to prevent threats. NNL.
