Gov Bello spent N5 billion to fight bandits, kidnappers in two years

The administration of Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State has spent more than N5 billion to fight bandits, kidnappers and other crimes in the last two years in the state.

Ahmed Matane, the Secretary to the State Government, said this while addressing journalists in Minna on Tuesday.

Mr Matane explained that the expenditure was to complement security agencies in the ongoing fight against banditry, kidnapping and other crimes.

He said the government also spent N605 million on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) following the security challenges and flooding in the state.

The SSG said the government bought more than 100 Hilux vehicles fitted with communication gadgets for the security agencies during the period.

“We have also refurbished 77 Hilux police patrol vehicles along with communication gadgets and five Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) for the ongoing fight against banditry and kidnapping.

“We have constantly been paying security personnel allowances deployed to fight criminal elements.

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“We have devised new security strategies to fight banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and other criminal elements in the state,” Mr Matane said.

Matane also decried the lack of manpower of the Police in Niger State despite its large landmass, arguing, that there are less than 8,000 policemen in the state.

”This means that 70 per cent of the people have no police to help secure their lives”.

He noted that a total of 151,380 persons have so far been displaced by the activities of bandits in the state within the last two years.

He said the affected local governments are Rafi, Shiroro, Bosso, Munya, Paiko, Mariga, Kontagora, Mashegu, Wushishi.

“Though, the security challenges are more in five to six local governments, Munya, Shiroro, Rafi, Mariga, Mashegu, Lapai and Borgu.

“All the LGs share borders with neighbouring states. Munya shares with Kaduna, Mariga, Rafi with Zamfara and Kaduna, Mashegu with Kebbi, while Lapai with the Federal Capital Territory, FCT and Kogi, Borgu with neighbouring countries of Benin Republic and Niger,” the SSG added.

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