Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger had attributed the recent banditry activities in Shiroro, Rafi, Mariga and Munya local government areas of the state to the ongoing security operations in Katsina and Zamfara states.
He said this in an interview with newsmen shortly after a meeting with heads of security agencies in the state in Minna on Thursday.
The governor said that with the security operations going on in these neighbouring states, the bandits relocated to Niger to find respite and thereby visiting havoc on residents.
Bello appealed to the people of the affected local government areas to be calm, adding that the government was working towards restoring peace in the areas.
He expressed concern over the escalating security situation across the state and noted that certain measures were being put in place to help curtail the security challenges.
“I am deeply concerned at the turn of events and have come up with different measures to curtail it. We are taking concrete steps to make the state safer.
“I want to assure Nigerlites that we will do whatever it takes and humanly possible to ensure the safety of our citizens,” he said.
The governor assured the people that the government would do whatever it takes to improve on the security situation in the state.
He enjoined the people to cooperate with the security agencies by providing relevant intelligence and information that would assist in apprehending the criminals.
NAN
