By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
Against the background of the recent banditry attacks in some communities of Bauchi State, the State Governor Bala Mohammed has urged communities to be vigilant and with security apparatus in the state.
Mohammed, who was in company of the State Commissioner of Police, Umar Sanda, and other top government officials, gave the advice at Sabon Gida Jada in Alkaleri Local Government Area on Saturday, when he paid a sympathy visit to the community, following a deadly attack by bandits.
Recall that no fewer than four people were killed and several others sustained various degrees of injury when the bandits attacked communities in Alkaleri LG.
And few days after the incident in Alkaleri, bandits kidnapped a village head and his son in a community in Toro local government.
The governor called on the citizens of the state to cooperate with security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders of the state to overcome insecurity in their respective domains, stressing that all hands must be on deck to ensure the security of lives and properties.
“If left unchecked, the relative peace being enjoyed in the state would collapse as bandits appears to be emboldened in their onslaught on several parts of the country”
” These recent attacks by bandits in the state are becoming rampant, hence citizens to be on the alert. However, security agencies alone cannot defeat bandits without the support of the locals. So I am calling on residents to join hands with security agencies in the state against criminals by being on the lookout and give vital information on any suspicious activities or movements of strange individuals in the area” he said
Governor Mohammed promised to strengthen relations between communities and the security agencies, particularly the police, in order to further maintain the peace being enjoyed in the state.
The Governor who sympathized with the residents of Sabon GariJada, described Maryam Mohammed who was killed while preventing the bandits from killing her son as a heroine.
He said her death was not in vain saying the administration would immortalise her as her heroic act was an example for others, especially women.
Governor Mohammed charged the police to promptly respond to distress call and information made by residents to forestall future reoccurrence.