FG Moves To End Cattle Rustlers Banditry In The North

The Nigeria government has ordered the military to begin an onslaught against cattle rustlers and bandits that have become a major security challenge in some northern states. 

The order was given after a marathon meeting between eight governors from the North West and North Central states, heads of security agencies and federal government officials yesterday at the Ministry of Defence, Abuja.

The meeting was called at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari to discuss the  security situation in the region.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoS) Danladi Kifasi, assured the Nigerian public that the state of insecurity in the north, would be a thing of the past.

He expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting, saying that the modalities being put in place would help to bring peace to the region.

He said, “I am quite satisfied with the outcome of the meeting. Obviously, for security reasons, we cannot discuss operational matters live on television.

“Farmers, people who have cattle can be rest assured that cattle rustlers would be a thing of the past.”

He also revealed that the Nigerian military would be actively involved and lead the operations, saying; “it is obvious, it should be obvious that the military will lead the operation”.

The HoS disclosed that it was the governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai who asked the presidency to intervene in the volatile security situation in the region.

He said: “The meeting was at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari. The commander in chief mandated me to call all of you, following a request by the executive governor of Kaduna state, in order to review, discuss and come up with modalities leading to the effective tackling of the current security concerns affecting Kaduna State and its neighbouring Katsina, Zamfara and Kebbi in the North West. And Plateau, Benue, Niger and Nassarawa States

“The essence of having your excellencies is to have first hand information as well as your views about the activities of these bandits and the way forward. While the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), will share their ideas about tackling the challenge”.

According to Thisday, El-Rufai spoke on behalf of the governors, revealing that the operations would be expanded to focus on the forest areas where the notorious rustlers and bandits operates from.

“This discussion has started in Kaduna where we are looking at areas, forests that have become a source of banditry in our states, and this ha been expanded to look at other forests in the North Central Nigeria that has also been a source of banditry and criminality. Bt we are discussing with the Ministry of Defence, the Inspector General of Police, the Commandant of the NSCDC. It is an operation to address that”, he added.