BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto –
Former Governor of Sokoto and Senator representing Sokoto North Senatorial District, Aliyu Wamakko has expressed shock over the gruesome killing of innocent passengers by bandits in Sokoto State.
Wamakko, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, noted that the perpetrators must be brought to book, adding that people should imbibe the teachings of their religions by respecting the santity of human lives.
The Senator, in a statement by his spokesperson, Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal said a situation where helpless citizens who were undertaking a legitimate journey to another part of the country as well as those in their respective villages are been killed mercilessly calls for sober reflection.
While extending his deep condolences to the families of the victims, Wamakko also assured that the security agencies would continue to do everything possible to end the operations of these despicable bandits.
The former governor also appealed to all and sundry to continue to provide their maximum support to the government towards bringing the activities of these criminals to an end as soon as possible.
Recalled that the state government through a statement by Governor Tambuwal’s spokesperson, Muhammad Bello, admitted that 23 persons were killed in the incident which occured along Gidan Bawa village of Isa LGA on Monday morning.
The bandits were said to have set a commercial vehicle conveying dozens of passengers ablaze leading to the dead of these innocent travellers.
Sources had earlier confirmed that the travellers were coming from Sabon Birni LGA of Sokoto East Senatorial District and heading to the southern part of Nigeria for their usual perennial dry season menial jobs.
Bandits have in recent time continued to intensify their hostilities in almost all the 8 LGAs of Sokoto East Senatorial district.
These upsurge in banditry attacks in villages and local governments that borders Zamfara State according to security sources might be as a result of the successes which the Nigerian Security is attaining in routing them out of their strongholds in neighbouring Zamfara State.
Worried by these continued attack on innocent villagers, some of the locals told our reporter that they are making efforts to pay a save our souls visit to the governor and appeal to him to allow them fortify their local vigilante that will go after the bandits.
Some of the locals who spoke on conditions of anonymity said, they are also making plans to write an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari on why he should legalize the activities of the local vigilante and fuse them with security agencies like the North East Civilian Joint Task Force of his government, if it Is truly determine to end the menace of insecurity in the north western states
DISCLAIMER
The OPINION / COLUMN is authored by independent contributors to the National Accord Newspaper. While contributors adhere to our editorial guidelines, they are not employed by the National Accord Newspaper. The perspectives and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not represent the views of the National Accord Newspaper or its staff.