The President Muhammadu Buhari administration is working with Northwestern state governments in pursuing an urgent revamp of the national security apparatus in the subregion following the infiltration of bandits into areas, otherwise secure.
This is coming on the heels of the recent killing of 34 persons in an attack on Tungar Kafau and Gidan Wawa communities in Shinkafi Local Government Areas of Zamfara.
President Buhari, who expressed sorrow over the renewed attacks extended his sympathies to the governments and people of Sokoto and Zamfara states and charged all stakeholders, made up of the federal security agencies and the states involved in drawing up the long-term strategic defence plan to begin its immediate implementation.
Under the plan, states are joining the federal government in supporting the security and military operations by providing logistical support, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, said in a statement in Abuja.
According to the statement, states would also provide additional vehicles in addition to those provided from the centre.
“The federal government is establishing new forward operation bases and when all of these come together, the ongoing operations will be scaled up.
“The National Emergency Management Agency,NEMA and the various State Emergency Management Agencies, SEMA are expected to streamline their operations to provide succor to displaced persons, thousands of whom are taking refuge in the neighboring Niger Republic. The full implementation of the plan is expected to provide security for residents to return to deserted communities,” the statement said.
The statement said the president assured that his administration is fully conscious of its responsibility of protecting the life and property of citizens, and would not fail in that regard.
