By Usman Wallin Gungura, Bauchi
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has, Thursday, visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who fled Mansur, Yalau, Futuk, Duguri, Gwana and some other communities of Alkaleri Local Government area of the state due to recent attacks by armed bandits.
Governor Mohammed, while sympathizing with the IDPs who were sheltered in a government learning facility at Kashere, in Gombe State, described the situation as “very bad.”
He appealed for urgent intervention from the federal government, saying “our people have been pushed out of their homes and villages by about 10,000 well-armed bandits”.
The governor explained that the bandits are recruiting local people and outsiders, including former illegal miners to help them carry out their criminal activities.
Bala Mohammed commended Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State for hosting the IDPs and assured of working closely with security agencies to protect the affected communities.
“We’ll meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu tomorrow to get directives for the Military and Police to tackle the issue. We’ll use technology and other means to decimate the bandits,” the governor said.
Governor Mohammed unfolded plans to recruit 2,000 youth into the vigilante groups to be trained as forest guards, emphasizing community involvement in protecting themselves.
He thanked and appreciated Kashere community for hosting the IDPs and apologized for any inconvenience caused by the victims, which he believes was not deliberately .
Earlier in his remark, the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu informed that more security personnel are being deployed to maintain law and order in the affected areas.
He assured that the Bauchi Police Command and other security agencies would not allow any space in Bauchi State to become ungoverned.
