Over seventy million naira has been paid as ransom to armed bandits in Rafi local government council of Niger state.
Commissioner of Local Government Chieftaincy Affairs and Internal Security Mr Emmanuel Umar stated this while presenting a one day public lecture to commemorate Niger state at forty six organised by the state council of NUJ in Minna.
Mr Emmanuel Umar who is also a security expert explained that while even a bank in Kagara headquarters of Rafi local government council can hardly boost of forty million naira but lamented that criminals have collected over seventy million naira as ransom from their victims.
He said the implication of this is that u will have more money in the hand of informal sector than that of formal sector which he described as dangerous and devastating.
Mr Emmanuel Umar gave another scenario of a cattle market in Mariga local government council that before now generate a transaction of over one billion naira that was attacked and by accessment over five hundred million naira was carted away stressing that this is an economic doom.
The way out according to him is that collective efforts by all and sundry is required to succeed in addition to equipping security agencies and the provision of additional manpower
Emir of Kagara Alh Garba Attahiru Gunna in a message to the occasion described the lecture as apt saying that he is ready to support this kind of programme by NUJ Niger state council at all time.
Chairman Niger state Council of NUJ Comrade Abu Nmodu who expressed delight with level of attendance and contributions from resource persons also directed Committee on Education and Training to organise another in house training for members this week.
Chairman Education and Training Committee of NUJ Niger state council with a theme Insecurity in Niger state the way forward Malam Suleiman Aliyu commended the state council of NUJ for their support adding that more training would be organise to impact positively on members.
Cov Aliu/
