…. As Police arrest 63 suspected thugs, drug dealers in Kano***
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has called on the military to take urgent action against the gathering of bandits in parts of Falgore forest in the state.
Ganduje made the call when he visited the Defence and Services Headquarters on courtesy calls on the service chiefs in Abuja on Thursday.
He said that bandits had started grouping themselves in the forest, adding that they might be planning to carry out attacks on communities in the state.
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The governor said the state government was working hard to open up the forests, saying he was committed in supporting the security agencies to sustain the relative peace in the state.
At a meeting with the Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya, Ganduje urged the Nigerian Army to hasten the work on the Army Training Depot at Falgore forest.
He said this was to ensure that the military took total control of the forest.
Ganduje attributed the prevailing peace in the state to the cordial relationship between the government and security agencies.
“My visit here today is to condole with the Nigerian Army over the death of the former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru and ten other officers.
“It was painful, it was untimely and sorrowful but we are consoled that they died in active service to the nation.
“I am also here to seek the help of the Nigerian Army to sustain the peace in Kano State; bandits have converted some forests in the state to hideouts.
“We are building houses, schools and hospitals for the herdsmen in some of the forests but we want the Army to commence activities at the Falgore forest,” he said.
Responding, the Chief of Army Staff, promised to visit Falgore to see how work could resume on the army training facility in the forest.
Yahaya said that the Nigerian Army in synergy with sister services and other security agencies was committed to overcoming security challenges across the country.
The newsmen report that the Kano governor also visited the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor and other service chiefs.
In another development, the police command in Kano State, has arrested 63 suspected thugs and drug dealers in a clearance operation across the eight Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kano metropolis.
The state spokesperson for the police, DSP Abdullahi Haruna, said this in a statement on Thursday in Kano.
He said the persons included 42 suspected notorious thugs (Yan Daba) and 21 drug dealers, adding that they were arrested from May 30 to June 1.
He said the clearance operation was part of efforts to rid the state of all forms of criminality, especially thuggery and drug abuse.
Haruna said large quantity of arms, illicit drugs (Tramadol) worth N29.9 million and exol tablets worth N3.2 million were recovered during the operation.
Meanwhile, community policing stakeholders in the state have pledged to cooperate with the police to make the state safer.
They made the pledge at meeting across the 11 area commands of the state with heads of security agencies and hunters’ association.
Yoruba and Igbo leaders, political party leaders and chairmen of the eight metropolitan LGAs attended the meeting.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Sama’ila Dikko, commended the stakeholders for their prayers, support, encouragement and cooperation.
“Currently with very low crime rate, serene and peaceful atmosphere in the state, the police will continue to remain steadfast and resolute in safeguarding lives and property,’’ Dikko said.
