President Muhammadu Buhari has today the 25th of February, 2021 ruled out all intention of granting amnesty to bandits, saying his administration will continue to fight against insurgents, bandits, and kidnappers who have made life hellish for all Nigerians.
The Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari made this known while representing the President at the joint security meeting of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Traditional Rulers Council, and delegations from the State Government in Kaduna State.
The meeting was to discuss the security challenges plaguing the nation caused by banditry and other related crimes as well as the Al-Majiri menace in the Northern part of the country.
While recognizing the challenges faced as a result of the high rate of insecurity in the country, which has subjected Nigerians to poverty and economic deprivation, the President said it is time to treat criminals as criminals and stop ethnic profiling.
He further said his administration is committed to continuously deal with insurgents, bandits, and kidnappers and he has instructed the service chiefs to draft out plans to put an end to all the criminals in the land as the lives of Nigerians continue to be threatened by hoodlums and criminals.
“I must appreciate the efforts of the 19 Northern States Governors’ Forum for their contribution towards national growth and development, especially in this challenging period in our nation’s being where certain fundamental corporate existence needs to be frankly deliberated upon and actionable resolutions reached.
This meeting is coming at a time when the nation is making steady progress in addressing the many challenges impeding development and progress. We are providing critical infrastructure such as roads, railways, airports among others which are critical to the economic prosperity of our people as well as opening up economic opportunities for our citizens to pursue legitimate aspirations that grow the economy.
At the same time, we are confronting the various dimensions of security challenges that continue to slow down the emancipation of our people from poverty and economic deprivation. The Government shall continue to deal with insurgents, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminals who constitute a threat to innocent citizens across the country. Criminals are criminals and should be dealt with accordingly, without resorting to ethnic profiling. I have already tasked the new Service Chiefs to devise new strategies that will end this ugly situation where the lives of our people continue to be threatened by hoodlums and criminals.
I expect that at this meeting, your Forum will also discuss and devise ways of building stronger collaborations with the security architecture and the people in defeating criminality across the region and the nation at large.
It is pertinent to note that the increased realization of our security, democracy, and development indices are inextricably linked. Democracy and rule of law promote stability and in turn reinforce the power to assert freedom and economic progress of our people.
I urge that these crucial and robust reports should be assiduously studied and implemented without delay. This is because we are not short of policies but often faced with challenges of implementation. You will be leaving a landmark in ensuring that the record reports are not left to rot on the shelves but used for the good of all.”
In attendance at the meeting were Governors Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina, Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, Simon Lalong of Plateau, Aminu Tambuwal, Sokoto, and Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state, while others were represented by their deputies.
Traditional rulers in attendance include; the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, Shehu of Borno, Umar Ibn El-Kenemi, Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, Etsu Nupe, Yahaya, Emir of Zazzau, and Ahmed Nuhu Bamali, among others.
The Federal Government’s delegation included Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Ahmed Wase, who represented the Senate President and Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu among others.
