Governor Umar Bago of Niger State has declared that his administration is prepared to confront bandits and their informants.
Speaking in a video clip released by Gaskiya News Hausa on Thursday, Bago warned bandits, informants, and anyone sheltering them to reveal their identities to security agencies.
Report stated that the governor visited Borgu Local Government Area, where he met with the Emir to discuss how banditry has disrupted schooling and farming in the area.
He revealed that his government has received backing from the federal government and international partners to strengthen operations against the criminals.
Highlighting the impact of insecurity on education and agriculture, Bago said, “I’m warning you all, I swear to God Almighty, we are now fully ready to confront bandits and we have started. We have gotten enough support from the Federal Government of Nigeria and the foreign governments to do the needful.
“I was in Borgu three days ago and I told them but they thought I was joking. But the way and manner I spoke to them, they should understand that it is no longer business as usual.”
He called on residents to assist in ridding the state of bandits by providing information and not shielding either bandits or their informants.
The governor also revealed that the state has technology in place to monitor communications linked to criminal activities and vowed to take responsibility for actions against informants during operations.
“Don’t hide them, don’t hide informants or any suspects in your houses and forests. Give us information and we will pick them up. Niger State’s agriculture and education have been hampered. Students no longer attend boarding schools and this has drawn us backwards.
“For the informants present here, we have gadgets capable of tracking and monitoring your calls, and if we discover you spoke or were in communication with bandits or anyone on our wanted list, we would add you to the list of wanted bandits and informants.
“If any informant goes missing, I, Bago, am responsible for their disappearance. I swear to Almighty God to hold me responsible. If you know any informants and you are here, I, Bago, will hunt you down,” he said.
