National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has advised the Niger Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, to collaborate with the military to rout bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central state from their hideout.
Speaking during a sympathy visit to Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, Ganduje, who noted that Niger has a large landmass and numerous forests, advocated for military intervention through launching attacks at the bandits, using the forests as their fortresses.
The former Kano State governor told his host that it was the military offensive that he deployed during his tenure as Kano State governor, where the Falgore Forest was transformed into a military training ground, eliminating criminal activities in the area.
“We are here to pray for our friend, our brother, and the good people of Niger State; we sincerely condole with the government and the good people of Niger, the families of the deceased and the injured ones.
“We appreciate how you keep Niger State safe because Niger State has the largest land mass and the highest numbers of forests in the country, which is a herculean task to keep the peace within its environs.
“Your Excellency, the solution to this menace is to conquer the forest. The bandits are in the forest, why have we been on the defensive instead of being on the offensive? When I was the governor of Kano State, I requested through the federal government that the military take over Falgore Forest, and the military built a military training ground there.That was how bandits were chased away from that forest, and Kano is at peace.“
Ganduje also conveyed condolences to the people of Niger State over the recent tanker explosion that claimed numerous lives, offering prayers and support to the families of the victims.
In his response, Governor Bago appreciated the solidarity of the APC leadership and urged the Federal Government to address critical infrastructure, such as the Suleja-Minna road, to reduce accidents and improve safety in the state.
“I’m standing before on behalf of Nigerlites, we really appreciate this visit. We are doing a lot to create awareness among our people about the dangers of scooping fuel whenever such an accident occurs.”
