Abubakar Sani Bello, Governor of Niger State and Chairman of the North Central States Governors Forum (NCSGF), has charged the state’s Joint Security Taskforce with putting an end to the incessant armed banditry, kidnappings, and wanton attacks on several communities in the Lapai Local Government Area.
In a statement issued in response to a gunman attack on General Hospital Gulu early this morning, Bello urged the taskforce to launch a sporadically coordinated onslaught as soon as possible in order to defeat the bandits and sanitize the area.
Condemning the attack in which some people were killed and others, including medical personnel, were abducted, he called the situation regrettable, callous, and inhuman.
The Governor lamented the spate of insecurity in the state’s Gulu axis, particularly targeting the hospital, and called for a swift, intensified security operation to ensure the smooth delivery of healthcare in the area.
“We are deeply concerned about the recent rise in armed banditry and kidnappings in Gulu communities when we are rejoicing and consolidating in the successes so far recorded in other affected areas, but as a responsible government we’ll not rest on our oars until we triumph over evil,” he stated.
He expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and assured them that the state government, in close collaboration with security agencies, will do everything humanly possible to secure the release of those abducted as well as the return of all those who fled during the attacks.
In recent months, bandits have increased their attacks on Gulu town and other neighboring communities, killing many people, kidnapping several others, stealing their food, and torching their settlements.