Sen Muhammad Adamu Aliero, representing Kebbi Central Senatorial District, has lauded the swift deployments of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) acting on the quick directives of the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar which led to a massive manhunt of the new Jihadist group Lakurawa on Tuesday last week in Mera community of Augie Local Government (LGA) of Kebbi State.
There were reports last weekend that the rattled bandits hurriedly fled the state upon sighting Nigerian military’s invading tanks and superior firepower causing them to abandon several cattle and other valuables they stole from the community where they also carried out gruesome murder of 15 people.
The turn of events prompted Senator Aliero alongside other National Assembly members from Kebbi State to embark on a major condolence cum fact-finding visit last week to Mera in Argungu and Augie LGAs of the state where they decried the gruesome murder of their constituents by the new terror Jihadist group said to be operating in Sokoto and Kebbi states,.
The Kebbi State NASS delegation which donated N10 million to relatives of the deceased comprised serving lawmakers such as former Senate Leader, Senator (Dr.) Yahaya Abdullahi, who still represents Kebbi North Senatorial District, Senator Musa Maidoki representing Kebbi South Senatorial District, Hon. Sani Tudu, Hon. Ibrahim Bello, Hon. Salisu Koko, Hon. Bello Kaoje, and Hon. Rabiu Kamba, among others.
Senator Aliero said that his team met a visibly-disturbed Emir of Argungu, HRH Samai’la Muhammad Mera and villagers who told them their ordeals, adding that the terror group issued a notice warning them to prepare for their comeback to avenge the killing of their members by local vigilante force wielding dane guns.
He further said that upon returning to Abuja on Tuesday last week, he and Senator (Dr.) Yahaya Abdullahi had a fruitful meeting with the minister of defence. Few minutes into the meeting, he noted that the minister of state, Bello Matawale walked in, turning the meeting into an all-Northwest people’s affair as both ministers hail from the same zone.
‘’We told the minister in no uncertain terms that if we play with the Lakurawa terrorists, what happened to the Northeast may happen to Northwest. It’s a war that can be finished within five days, and if we allow a repeat of North east in the Northwest, it would be devastating, the North west has more population, and richer in agricultural land , animal husbandry with rivers for good irrigation, fishing and other things, so we must secure the area.
‘’So in our presence, he (Badaru) called the chief of defence staff to get the chief of army staff who should get the General Officer Commanding (GOC), to send additional troops to Mera village to protect the people against further threats by the bandits to return and inflict more mayhem.
‘’The idea of possible aerial reconnaissance was also raised to assess and determine the armed bandits’ location and if possible to use fighting jets bomb and their sophisticated weapons showing they have foreign backers. We held on to the defense team until the directives were given’’, Aliero said.
He disclosed that the troops, equipped with armoured tanks and lethal weapons stormed Mera and rescued all the rustled cows, about 75 or so, and other stolen valuables abandoned by the armed group as the military pursued them with heavy military firepower.
‘’Do you know that the bandits were bold enough to hang around and kept threatening the villagers until our military arrived on Tuesday (November 12) and pursued them as they ran into Niger Republic. Our troops can’t go beyond our international boundary. But it is now up to our existing military cooperation with the Nigerien military on stamping out banditry and insurgency to do the rest’’, he said.
Expressing satisfaction at the defence minister’s promptness and the dispatch displayed by General Chris Musa-led armed forces in arresting the situation, the senator emphasized the need for the defence authorities to maintain its presence in the affected areas to prevent a possible return of the bandits until the threats are ultimately quashed to enable the people breathe the air of complete freedom from fear.
Sixty- seven year-old Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero who was Kebbi State governor (1999-2007) and minister of the Federal Capital Territory (2008-2010), maintained that the rapid practical steps taken so far by the gallant Nigerian military against the bandits have brought huge relief to the people living in the affected areas.
‘’As I speak, our people now have a rest of mind unlike before when they felt terribly disturbed, frightened and disoriented because the bandits threatened to come back, but that fear has literally dissipated. The people are commending us for showing concern and responding to their plight. That is the least we could do for our people since that’s what we were elected to do anyway. We wish we could do more.
‘’We are very happy with the minister of defence, he was very receptive and acted promptly. The CDS, General Chris Musa has continued to prove that Nigerians can rely on his team to secure the nation. We had even planned to see National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu but we saw no need since we got the required response.
‘’As elected lawmakers, we will continue to work assiduously with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to keep the country safe, secure and stable because insecurity does not recognise race, religion, tribe, tongue or party affiliation. Security is everybody’s responsibility ’’, he said.
