Insecurity: Bauchi Governor donates salary, 50 motorcycles to wage war against bandits

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Motorcycles donated by the Governor in fight against bandits

By Akanji Alowoludo, Bauchi

In his resolve to win the war against crimes and criminalities especially banditry that is becoming overwhelming in the state, Bauchi state Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir has offered his entire monthly salary for the time being. 

The money according to the Governor, is to be spent to wage relentless war against the activities of bandits in two Districts of his country home of Duguri in Alkaleri local government area of the state.

Bala Mohammed made the declaration on Saturday evening in Yelwan-Duguri when he paid a sympathy visit to the 37 victims who were kidnapped by the bandits in Duguri District.

According to him, “With this, I have pledged my salary and allowance to my hometown for the time being for the use of all the vigilante and other security operatives in the area in fight against the bandits. Monthly, I will be giving N2 million to the two districts.”

Bala Mohammed further explained that; “We are going to give the money, N10 million to about 200 vigilante and security agencies that went and rescued these people. Even the rescued are not forgotten, I give them N2 million.”

The Governor also donated, 50 motorcycles to assist the local vigilante groups, local hunters and other security operatives in the area fighting insecurity in his birth place of Duguri.

Bala Mohammed however commended the concerted efforts of the Police, Civil Defence Corps, the SSS and the Army for the manner they jointly acted in rescuing the over 30 kidnapped victims.

“They did it in a manner that is required within the best of professional or Community engagement, all the kidnapped victims have been rescued except one that was shot and I was told that he is also okay”, the Governor explained.

The Governor  said about Ten of the bandits were killed by the security operatives after putting so much resistance and appraised the gallantry of the residents who through the local vigilante, assisted the security operatives in the battle.

He commended the Commissioner of Police and Heads of other security agencies in the state for giving his Government the needed cooperation and support and for being transparent in their engagements.

The Governor then warned traditional rulers and other stakeholders to avoid conspiracy and compromise, observing that the bandits seems to have fertile ground in the area.

“These bandits are coming in and sometimes they have fertile ground from people that are around. We are working with the security agencies to bring CIDs who would be going into the villages to find out those people that are conniving with the bandits because they are worst than the bandits”, the Governor declared.

He also warned that anyone found compromising or caught assisting the bandits will be treated and giving the worst punishment than them.

“We are not going to allow anybody to come and drive us away from our ancestral land and other preoccupation, we would rather sacrifice our lives to ensure that we protect ourselves, and this is what is called Community engagement or policing”, he said.

The Governor while thanking all the security operatives for the effort, enjoined the rescued persons and the rest of the residents to continue to cooperate with the government and the security agencies by giving useful information that will help in the war against criminals.

According to him, despite being in the opposition party, his administration believes so much in the power of the federal government which has almost all the security apparatus.

“Without these people your son the governor is nothing, he must be seen with the police, with the Army, with the SSS and the Civil Defence because they are the signs of authority. Of course our hunters are there, you don’t have the obligation to take laws in your hands but certainly we thank our security agencies for their cooperation”, he said.

Mohammed then enjoined Commissioners and other cabinet members of his administration to establish Community policing in their respective areas, said all hands must be on deck to fight criminality.