From Bello Wakili (Abuja)
President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered for an immediate response to rising cases of bandit attacks on communities in Zamfara State.
In a directive to the National Security Adviser, Retired Major-General Babagana Monguno, the President ordered that there must be a clear pathway to ending the resurgent of banditry that has continued to cost lives and the displacement of families.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, says the order is in response to a recent letter by the Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Alhaji Nasir Magarya, calling for intervention against the bandits’ resurgence.
It says security officials and other stakeholders will meet soon to deliberate on security and the issue of illegal mining which is the factor fueling the crisis in the state.
The statement says official statistics suggest that there are more than 20,000 illegal miners undermining this important part of the economy, operating in a manner that is extraordinarily harmful and destructive.