By; BALA B. BITRUS, Minna.
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State has acknowledged the return of sanity and tranquility in parts of the state hitherto bedeviled by activities of armed kidnappers, cattle rustlers, armed robbers and other dare devil bandits in the recent past.
Insecurity occasioned by the activities of bands of criminals in three council areas of Munya, Shiroro and Rafi areas of the state had for months on-end posed serious concerns to citizens in the areas and the state government as kidnappers, cattle thieves and armed robbers held sway almost on daily basis before the recent drafting of military personnel to the troubled places.
The decision to invite the military paid off as a measure of sanity, peace and orderliness have gradually returned to the areas concerned.
Governor Sani Bello said Monday at the Government House, while receiving a delegation of elders and political leaders of the governing All Progressive Congress from Shiroro local government area and those from Munya on appreciation visit to the him that his administration attaches priority attention to security.
He said the maintenance of law and order and the security of lives and properties of all citizens remains crucial to his administration.
The governor noted that efforts would continue to be intensified to ensure a more enhanced security to all citizens across the state adding that government would not relent on the success so far attained in curbing the nefarious activities of men of the underworld whose dangerous, criminal activities had caused anguish, injuries and loss of lives in several instances.
He recalled the pains, anxiety and tension caused by the activities of cattle thieves, kidnappers and armed robbers in Munya, Rafi and Shiroro Local Government Areas which had for long time persisted without any respite but acknowledged that normalcy had now been restored and that everybody was now going about their normal, legitimate businesses without any threat from undesirable elements.
He commended the intervention by security agencies in the troubled areas and for their indomitable commitment to flush out the criminals from the enclaves taken over by the criminal gangs.
Governor Sani Bello assured that the security of lives and properties of citizens would continue to receive the needed attention from his administration even as he enlisted the cooperation, support and goodwill of all citizens to report suspicious movements of persons around them.
He said with the return of normalcy in the affected areas, meaningful developments could now be guaranteed.
Anthony Francis, a victim of kidnap for ransom from Munya, who spoke on behalf of the delegation, expressed gratitude to the governor for his administration’s support in bringing an end to the reign of terror by men of the underworld in the bushes of Munya and its environs.
He pledged the continued support of the party members from the areas stressing that they were satisfied with the laudable achievements of the present administration in the state.
