The National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno says the federal government will adopt a strategy that will bring an end to armed banditry, kidnapping and other security challenges bedeviling the Northwest zone of the country.
The NSA stated this in Katsina after a closed-door meeting with Governor Aminu Bello on the recent surge in cases of armed banditry in the state.
Monguno, who led heads of intelligence agencies on the visit, explained that the team was sent by President Muhammadu Buhari to receive briefings from Governor Aminu Bello Masari and heads of security agencies in the state and to strategize on practical ways to tackle armed banditry in Katsina and other affected states.
He explained that ”Our visit was prompted by recent happenings in Katsina State and other parts of the North-west zone that are troubled by the scourge of armed banditry and kidnapping.
”Mr. President directed that I come here along with the Inspector-General of Police and all heads of intelligence agencies, the DG SSS, DG NIA and the Chief of Defence Intelligence to receive briefings from the Governor of Katsina State with regards to the occurrences in the last couple of weeks.
”These incidences have become extremely intolerable and unacceptable, we will therefore identify gaps and determine how best to fill them, we will also identify the underlying causes of these security challenges and address them from a collective point of view.
”We had fruitful discussions with the governor, we have been able to identify where these gaps are, and it is our intention to work collectively not just as security agencies, law enforcement agencies, or intelligence agencies but also on a governmental basis, to work in partnership with the governments of the affected states to find lasting solutions” the NSA said.
He also noted that his office will coordinate greater collaboration between security agencies, state governments and the local community in the fight against armed banditry and kidnapping in the affected states.
The National Security Adviser urged local communities residing in areas that are haunted by armed banditry to provide relevant intelligence information to security agencies and avoid serving as informants for the bandits.
The NSA’s team also paid a visit to the emir of Katsina, Alhaji AbdulMumini Kabir Usman where he assured the emir that the federal government was doing everything possible to bring an end to armed banditry and other forms of violent crime in the state.
After an open session, the team held a closed-door meeting with the Emirs of Katsina and Daura and key officials of the two emirate councils.
