Bauchi: Governor Mohammed to recruit 20, 000 youth to fight bandits

From Paul Orude Bauchi

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has revealed the intention of his administration to recruit 20, 000 youths to fight bandits in the state.

Mohammed revealed that the 20,000 recruits would be trained by the police and the military to protect the people of the state against the onslaught of bandits.

“The time has come when we must take the destiny of our state in our hands,” he said.

Governor Mohammed addressing the people of Lere Community while the village head looks on

“Whatever resources we have we will take it and use it judiciously”

Mohammed made this known on Monday at the palace of the village head of Lere, Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of the State, during a support visit.

The governor was in company with the state Commissioner of Police Auwal Muhammad, and other top security chiefs from the military, Department of State Security, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, government officials, traditional rulers among other stakeholders.

He praised the vigilante in Lere community led by the police for killing 67 suspected bandits and rescuing 28 victims saying it was in line with his stance to rid the state of criminal elements.

“I have come to congratulate you and to thank you most sincerely on behalf of myself and the government and people of Bauchi State,” he said.

Gov Mohammed mounts one of the 30 motorcyles he donated to the vigilante in Lere to fight bandits

“What you have done has shown character, perseverance and community engagement,” he stated.

“This is what we want to do in terms of tackling security in Bauchi State. I understand that you have rescued 29 captives and you have wasted, decimated over 60 miscreants and charlatans who have been terrorizing our people”

“This place is the route of the miscreants from the north west,” he said.

“My colleagues from the North West have come together to fight this scourge of banditry and they are going to do it at the highest level with the support of the federal government

“We are calling on the federal government to also support Bauchi State to fight banditry.

Bauchi State Commissioner of Police Mr Auwal Muhammad speaking during the support visit by the governor to Lere

“We are` taking the brunt. As they are working on terrorism we are getting the backlash because we are surrounded by seven states. We are a gateway to prosperity and also a gateway to criminals and we are overstretched and working together with minimal support”

The Governor thanked the Commissioner of police and other security agents for ensuring the rule of engagement in the fight against bandits and other criminal elements in the community was adhered.

The governor donated 10 million and 30 motorcycles to the community to support the vigilante and local hunters to fight crime in the area.

Governor Mohammed revealed that his administration would set up an agency to procure more motorcyles and vehiclesengage 20,000 youths

He promised to continue to support the police and other security agencies, including the local vigilante to curtail the incursion of bandits in the area.

Governor Bala Mohammed however warned the vigilante in Lere not to engage in extra judicial killings to settle scores saying the security agencies have faith in them

“You have to make sure that we go by the rules of engagement and make sure we are not extra judicial,” he warns.

In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police assured the governor and the people of the local government area that the issue of kidnapping and other crimes in the area would soon become a thing of the past.

“I appreciate the support that we are getting from the state government all the time,” he said.

“I want to assure the state government and other stakeholder’s hat issue of security as it concern sall of us we continue o due our best and the state “

Earlier the Chairman Caretaker Committee of Tafawa Balewa Samila Wakili lamented that kidnapers armed robbers and bandit had carried out 41 attacks in Lere community, thereby causing residents’ sleepless nights.

Wakili thanked the governor for his quick repose to the insecurity challenge in the area and urged the people to cooperate with the security agencies and the vigilante to tackle the menace.

He said: “We, in Tafawa Balewa, have been plagued by great security challenges especially of kidnappers and armed robbers among others.

“For over 41 days, there is no single day that people are not being kidnapped or our roads blocked by armed robbers, some of them are even killed. This has caused us great trouble.

“We kept meeting and discussing on how to address these issues and at the end of the day, commanders of vigilante and hunters, saw that it was getting out of hand. They requested us to seek for permission from security agencies to allow them confront the bandits in the bushes.

“And Alhamdullilah, we recorded great success. They were able to arrest 36 of them.”

Village head of Lere Jamilu Bawa commended the police and other security agencies for providing technical support to the vigilante which resulted in the success recorded.