I will arm vigilante with assault rifles, says Niger Governor as state procures drones
By Akeem Musa, Minna
Henceforth, vigilante in Niger State will be provided with assault rifles to confront terrorism and armed bandits in Niger State, the State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Bello, has said.
Bello spoke at Kasuwan Garba in Mairga Local Government area of Niger State. The Governor also said he will not succumb to demands by the terrorists for dialogue. At the gathering where he spoke were some 200 members of the Vigilante Groups. He said no amount of threat will stop him from fighting the terrorists to submission.
Irohinoodua was reliably informed that the State Governor has also procured drones for aerial surveillance in Niger State
He said, ‘’We are not going to disband the vigilantes as a result of threat from the bandits, even when the Banditry in the state stops, the vigilantes will still be there to provide security at the Local Government Ares’’.
According to him, the state government will not go into any form of negotiation with the bandits or pay ransom for the release of kidnapped persons in the state. Niger has been the new hotbed of terrorists activities with a string of kidnapping taking place frequently one of the worst being the kidnap of several pupils from a government owned school.
Bello said ‘’there will be no dialogue but any of them that repent and surrender his weapon will be forgiven and we will compensate such Bandits to be able to live a normal live in the society’’