At least residents of 23 Local Government Areas in Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi States are battling to survive as kidnappers, cattle rustlers and bandits have posed a threat to their lives.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, a check indicates that residents of the affected areas have either been forced to migrate, enter into agreement with the criminals or live a life of uncertainty.
It was gathered that in Sokoto State, residents said Local Government Areas worst affected are Isa, Sabon Birni, Gwadabawa, Illela, Tangaza, and Goronyo.
NAN reported that the residents had been forced to abandon their farms, while some villages had been deserted across the affected LGAs.
Malam Abubakar Bawa,
The Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Ahmed Aliyu, whlie commenting on the incident, Malam Abubakar Bawa said that the state government was aware of the enormity of the situation.
“We are giving priority to ensuring a safe environment. Addressing security challenges has remained top on our administration’s nine-point agenda.
“Our target as a government is to ensure that citizens sleep with their two eyes close and continue to live and relate peacefully with one another,’’ he said.
He assured that the Nigerian Army, Police and other security agencies have been sustaining efforts to secure the areas.
The governor’s spokesman said the government would continue to provide all necessary support for the security agencies to tackle the situation.
Also, Spokesman of t
The Sokoto State Police Command, ASP Ahmad Rufai, said the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ali Kaigama, has been engaging residents to facilitate the flow of actionable information to address banditry and other criminalities.
He explained that the command had adopted measures deployed personnel and materials, and have been collaborating with other security agencies to end banditry and other criminalities in the state.
The PPRO disclosed that Local Governments in eastern parts of Sokoto state were mostly affected by the security challenges.
In Zamfara, a civil society activist, Mr Faruk Shehu, said many communities in the 14 LGAs of the state have been displaced, with residents of Maru, Anka, Shinkafi, Maradun, Zurmi, Gusau and Bungudu LGAs, worst affected.
