By Ummi Ismaeel,
Minna
Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has expressed preparedness of his administration to collaborate with Nigerian Armed Forces to check activities of armed bandits that are terrorizing citizens of the state.
Bello disclosed this during the Camp Highland Battle Inoculation of 631 six Army Cadets which took place at the Nigerian Army Camp Dogon Fadama, Kontagora.
Governor Bello, while lamenting that the state’s large expanse of forest had given undue advantage to bandits and other criminals using the forests as hideouts to perpetrate their evil acts, called for a joint military exercises in forests across the state.
His words:
“I Know our resources are lean and I know this is a federal responsibility but because we are deeply in pains and we need to provide succor, it has become necessary that we partner the armed forces to secure our forests”.
The governor further explained that provision of enabling environment for private sector participation will not only create jobs, it will also guarantee security of lives and properties of citizens.
“It has become necessary we do the needful by providing security and clearing criminal elements amongst us because all the clamour for investment will not yield much needed result if security challenges are not addressed and we need these investments so we can guarantee jobs as every citizen cannot be under government’s employment”.
The Chief of Army Staff who spoke through the Director, Military Training, Nigeria Defense Academy, Brigadier General Victor Onumajuru, said that the aim of the training was to give the officers basic experience of tactical manoeuvres used out in land operations.
Also, the Commandant of the Nigeria Defense Academy, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, said that the ceremony marked the end of the training activities for the cadets.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his support towards the success of the training , which according to him, will add to the forces to quell all forms of security threats in Nigeria.