.Decries proliferation of small arms by herdsmen
By Ummi Ismaeel,
Minna
The Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has donated N4 million to the state chapter of Nigerian Legion.
He also ordered the immediate release of the N6 million the state government pledged to the group last year, while appealing to wealthy Nigerians to donate generously for the upkeep of families of Nigerian soldiers who died fighting to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria.
Bello spoke during the launch of the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration and Emblem Appeal, which held at the Government House, Minna.
The governor said that he made sure that the monies were released for the sustenance of families of the fallen heroes.
Bello directed the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Finance to release the N10 million to the state legion before close of the day, while mandating all political appointees and members of the state legislature to follow suit.
Meanwhile, the governor has raised the alarm over what he termed proliferation of small arms across the state and therefore solicited for the support of Nigerian legion in assisting security agencies to check threats to security of lives and properties in the state by criminals.
Governor Sani Bello said, “We are now experiencing internal security threats from especially cattle rustlers invading our rural areas on a recurrent basis and armed herdsmen.
“Last year alone, we lost over 10 officers in the state fighting the menace”.
Niger State Chairman of Nigerian Legion, Ex Warrant Officer Abubakar Musa Kutigi had pleaded with Governor Bello to redeem pledge made to them last year and also to assist recover monies pledged by government functionaries for the upkeep of members and their families.
Delay in redeeming pledges made to Nigerian legion by the state government, individuals and corporate bodies, Kutigi said will definitely affect performances negatively as such monies are used in providing food, shelter, school for children of fallen soldiers in the state.
Kutigi said that monies realised through emblems were mostly used for the upkeep of dependants of fallen heroes, as he prayed that, ‘pledges made today would be redeemed quickly and in a very short time without delay because action delayed is action denied’.
