NGF Considers Negotiation With Bandits And Others
On Tuesday, there were strong signs that Nigeria’s Forum of Governors might choose to engage with the bandits and people affected by their atrocities to address the country’s insecurity.
NGF President Dr. Kayode Fayemi gave this direction when she led several forum participants on a solidarity visit to Niger Governor Sani Bello in Minna, the state capital.
We remind you that on Wednesday last week, militants stormed the State College of Science in Kagar in the Rafi metropolitan area of the state and abducted 27 students and 15 workers.
Fayemi said during her visit to Minna: “We all feel your pain. We sense the fears and concerns of the good people of Niger. This is not uncommon. What is happening here is not unique to you. You were part of several delegations in the states of Bornu, Katsina, Ogun and Oyo. In fact, you were in Ogun State when the Kagar incident occurred and you had to rush home to take part in the trial in Niger State. ”
“We don’t want to come here in a whining cycle. This is not our job. Yes, we want to be compassionate. Yes, we want to understand. We want to feel the pain of our people because our first responsibility as governors, enshrined in the Nigerian constitution, is the safety and well-being of our people, but we don’t want to complain because the citizens want us to solve the problem. Our people just want us to find a final solution to this cycle of violence, uprisings, banditry, crime and banditry in our country. “
Fayemi called for adequate coordination among security services, adding that synergy is needed to achieve optimal results in ending the security challenges plaguing the country.
Pointing out that the governors might consider the possibility of dialogue, he said: “We also need to explore other possibilities along with what the security agencies are doing if that means engaging in dialogue. We may not have a choice. We may have to do whatever it takes to help us deal with this immediate crisis and then, after much longer time, begin addressing the root causes of this social shift responsible for what we observe all around us. ”
The NGF President praised the measures taken by Bello that led to the release of passengers abducted on February 14 in a bus from the Niger State Transportation Service.
In response, the Governor of Niger said that the solidarity visit of his colleagues was a moral support for him and for the residents of the state.
He added that it is time for the federal government to do whatever is necessary to address the security issues that plagued the country.
State governors have limited powers, he said, especially when it comes to overseeing the country’s security apparatus.
Bello said: “It’s time for the federal government to connect with and work with state governments to provide adequate information and find a lasting solution to this threat.
“We’re state governors, but we all have limitations when it comes to controlling operations. We do not fully control the army, air force and even the police. “
Bello said he fully supports the kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to combating banditry.
We should only talk to repentant bandits – Government of Niger
“I agree that we should have a dialogue, no matter how bad it seems. It is necessary to look at the root causes and see how we can address them, but then, rest assured, for those who choose the path of terrorism and show no signs of remorse, it is necessary to do what is necessary. “
The governor said the state government has pledged to secure the release of the kidnapped Kagar GSC.
Other governors who were part of the delegation were Simon Lalong (Plateau), Abdulrahman Abdulrazak (Kwara), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa) and Aminu Tambuval (Sokoto).
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has asked all heads of military and paramilitary agencies to step up efforts to release SGC students and staff, Kagar
The Chamber presented the agenda for the plenary meeting on Tuesday following the unanimous acceptance of a motion made by Mr. Unyime Idem of the State of Akwa Ibom.
The Urgent Social Movement is entitled: “Urgent Appeal to Service Chiefs and Inspector General of Police to Intensify Efforts to Rescue Kidnapped Students and Staff of Public Science High Schools, Kagara, Niger.”
Accepting the petition, the Chamber decided to “fully condemn the attack and abduction of students and staff (workers) at the State Science High School, Kagara, Niger, which occurred on February 17, 2021.”
The Chamber also instructed “all service leaders, the Inspector General of Police and other security services to intensify efforts to rescue the abducted.”
In addition, the House of Representatives has instructed its Committee on National Security and Intelligence to enforce the resolutions.
Raising the petition, Godem recalled how the militants attacked a school on February 17, 2021 at 2 a.m., killed a student, and abducted 27 students and three employees, along with 12 of their relatives.
The legislator also recalled that at least 30 travelers were kidnapped on February 14, 2021 by gunmen who ambushed passengers on the Tegina-Zungeru highway in the Rafi metropolitan area in Niger state. He said the gunmen also killed three members of a local vigilante group who were trying to thwart their operation.
He also recalled an incident in Shiroro, also in Niger state, on February 18, 2021, in which gunmen attacked and killed one person, injured two, and kidnapped an unknown number.
Ditto said: “The home is devastated by the fact that the affected students and their families will be deeply traumatized, especially the family of the deceased student. One can only imagine how the abductees will live under armed bandits and what kind of reorientation they will receive, leaving their parents, guardians and relatives to suffer from insomnia.
“The House of Representatives is wary that the kidnappers released photographs of their whereabouts, and one of them was holding a rocket-propelled grenade, a shoulder-mounted missile that launches rockets with an explosive warhead, for which only the federal government could grant a license. The abductees could also be seen sitting on the floor in the dust.
“The House notes that the recent event, especially in the state of Niger, is terrifying and the government must act quickly to contain this threat, otherwise we will soon have a nation of perpetual anarchy.”
Source: – Punch ng
