We’re Helpless Over Army’s Inability To Target Bandits’ Location, Says El-Rufai

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, yesterday, lamented his administration’s helplessness following the inability of security operatives to locate the hideout of bandits terrorising the state.

El-Rufai spoke to journalists after his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja to brief him on the security situation in the state, where terrorists recently killed no fewer than 40 persons.

He noted that the security agencies operating in the area have been overstretched despite the many security institutions in the state as they are involved in operations in all parts of the country.

On the availability of intelligence to trail the bandits, he said: “Yes, we receive security reports, we know a lot about the bandits, where they are and their activities.”

El-Rufai, who lamented the killing of 40 persons in the state, saying that although there had been such incidents, said the recent killings was a great shock and called for more intervention of security forces, noting that whereas the security forces were doing their best, their effort was not enough.

He said the recent Federal High Court declaration of bandits as terrorists opened the way for the security agencies to engage them frontally without any hindrance.

The governor stressed that no one would be taken to the international for killing, insisting that Kaduna State would not negotiate with bandits, as its resolve was to kill them.

On the appropriate terminology for the criminals, he said: “They are bandits. If you want to call them terrorists you can call them terrorists, but we don’t want to confuse them with Boko Haram.

“The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been branded as terrorists, but we don’t call them terrorists, we call them IPOB. The nomenclature does not matter. What matters is that they are now fair game for the Armed Forces.”