Tambuwal, El-Rufai meet Buhari, decry spate of banditry in North-West

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, met with Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
It was learned that the meeting was at the instance of the governor.
Speaking to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Tambuwal said he was in the presidential villa to update the president on the security situation in Sokoto State.
He said that he also demanded from the President more military intervention to check the activities of bandits in the state.
The governor disclosed that he solicited for logistics and support for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.
“I requested to see the president yesterday (Thursday) and he granted me audience today.
“I have seen him, briefed him on the security situation in Sokoto State in particular; the security situation in Sokoto Eastern Senatorial District and of very special concern, Sabon Birni Local Government Area of the state.
“Apart from the previous attacks, only two days ago through banditry attacks, we lost about 74 people in a very heinous and dastardly act of aggression from the bandits.
“I have briefed Mr President on the general situation and the need for support that we require.
“When I said `we’ in this case I meant the security personnel that are there in Sokoto working day and night in synergy with each other to ensure that they maintain peace and order in the state.’’
Tambuwal expressed satisfaction with the president’s response so far in addressing the menace of bandits in the state.
He revealed that governors of the North western states including Niger state (North Central) had agreed to jointly address the problem of insecurity in the region.
On COVID-19, the governor revealed that Sokoto State had so far recorded 116 cases, 14 deaths, over 90 had recovered from the virus while only eight were remaining at the State’s Isolation Centres.
“We are working hard, the task force is doing very well; the medical team in the state is doing very well and the public response to mobilization and awareness is paying up,’’ he added.
Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State had earlier met Buhari and expressed grief over the high spate of banditry in the North-West.
Also at the meeting was the Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.
El-Rufai told State House correspondents on Friday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, that his visit was to find a lasting solution to the problem.
He said, however, that Nigerian security agencies have been doing their best to contain the menace.
“The Sokoto story only hit the headlines just a few days ago, but in Zamfara, in Kaduna, in Niger, in Katsina, this banditry has become a Northwestern scourge and we have been battling it with the support of the military.
“We are very grateful to the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Army and in our own particular case, even the Navy has been holding fort Southern Kaduna.
“We have been dealing with this issue and our concern now is with the operations in Sokoto and Zamfara.
“Many of the bandits will move to Kaduna; this is part of the reasons I am here. I will be meeting with the Minister of Defence and the Service Chiefs to try to get more military activities, some operations to be strengthened.’’
El-Rufai said that banditry would affect agriculture unless it was dealt with.
He said that the Chief of Air Staff had assured him that whatever was needed to be done to wipe out the bandits and to enable farmers go to farm as the rains advanced would be done.
“We are confident that things will get better. It is most unfortunate that we have had to deal with it in the Northwest in the same way that Boko Haram ravaged the Northeast.
“These bandits are also becoming a serious problem in the northwest; but the problem is being addressed.’’
On COVID-19 pandemic, he said that the state’s team was working very hard not to let the people down as he was very proud of the quality of the people in the team.
He said that when he was isolated for 26 days, the business of government in Kaduna State did not stop.
The governor said he was proud of the deputy governor and the work that she had done with the team.
He said that the situation was the same all over the country as all the states are all dealing with very difficult situation.
“The economy is going to go into depression; there is nothing we can do about that; revenues have collapsed; yet you still have to invest in more public health facilities.
“You have to invest in treatment; you have to invest in security and so on.
“So, it is a very difficult time to be in a leadership position and that is why the people and the leaders must all work together and for the Almighty God to end this pandemic.
“It is a major problem, but we are working together; we are a resilient nation and I am sure we will overcome,’’ he said.