Bandits Kill Over 1,000 Nigerians In Multiple Attacks

Government Condemns Activities Of Bandits

The federal government of Nigeria has disclosed that a total of 1,460 deaths have been recorded in 330 attacks by bandits in the country.

The government added that the deaths occurred within seven months of January to July 2019.

The Permanent Secretary, Special Services, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr Amina Shamaki, said this yesterday at a security meeting by the federal and states security administrators in Birnin Kebbi.

She noted that the North West zone, which has now become a major flashpoint and source of worry for security agencies was until recently, the most peaceful part of the country.

“From January to July, 2019, about 330 attacks were recorded, resulting to the death of about 1,460 civilians,” she said.

She, however, added that a major reduction in the activities of the bandits was recorded between June and July, 2019, as a result of the coordinated response put in place by the government and security operatives.

She singled out current Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle for praise, urging other states with security challenges to copy his style.

“The dialogue initiated by the current Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, in particular, and the other governors in the zone is worthy of commendation and should be adopted by the states with similar security challenges,” she said.

The permanent secretary, however, expressed concerns that bandit attacks seem to be on the rise in some other states. She, therefore, called on security agencies to prevent such growing attacks.

In his remarks, Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu while calling on Nigerians to embrace peace, commended security agencies and the judiciary in the state for their efforts in making the state safe.

He said “We should collapse the silos that divide us, embrace and understand each other in order to help ourselves in the provision of security in this country”.