September 13, (THEWILL) – The Senator representing Kano South Senatorial District, Sulaiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, has commended Nigerian troops for neutralising notorious bandit kingpin, Kachalla Buzu, aka Halilu Sububu, in Zamfara State.
In a statement issued to newsmen on Friday, Sumaila described the troops’ action as a welcome development, saying the soldiers deserve commendation.
He said the success recorded by the troops was not unconnected with the recent commitment exhibited by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Defence and the Office of the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu.
“Neutralisation of this bandit kingpin is something commendable. I want to use this opportunity to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle; National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu; Zamfara State Police Commissioner, Muhammad Shehu Dalijan, and above all, the Nigerian troops.
“Though the Nigerian troops have succeeded in neutralising Sububu, we need more efforts on their part to also neutralize the remaining bandits that are terrorizing our people in Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger and Kaduna states.
“We need all the bandits to either be neutralised or captured alive to end the banditry in the region,” the lawmaker said.
He appealed to the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, and all security agencies to “block all possible escape routes to prevent the bandits from escaping due to pressure from the troops in the five states of Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Kaduna and Niger”.
“There are several communities that share borders, with the forests linking them with five states affected by banditry. My constituency is one of such places. So, the troops need to pay attention to such places so that the bandits will not have hiding places in such areas.
“I hope Mr President will continue to support the Nigerian troops to end this menace. Several people were killed in bandits’ attacks, hundreds of communities sacked in the four affected states and hundreds of residents displaced. We want concerted efforts between the Federal Government and the four affected states to end banditry in the region,” he said.
Senator Sumaila also urged the people of the affected states to always cooperate with security agencies by availing them with useful information that will help in winning the fight against banditry in the region, noting that “the issue of security concerns everybody, hence the need for the society to contribute quota in the crusade”.
He also charged traditional rulers to support Nigerian security agencies, saying traditional institutions have a greater role to play in the fight against banditry.
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
