TheCable

Atiku Bagudu, governor of Kebbi state, says President Muhammadu Buhari has mandated seven north-west governors, including himself, to end banditry in the zone.

According to NAN, Bagudu said this at the continuation of a Fulani stakeholders’ peace, security and unity meeting held in Birnin-Kebbi.

The governor said the president’s directive was to ensure the urgent restoration of normalcy in the region.

He added that the president was fully committed to protecting the lives and property of all law abiding and peaceful citizens of the country.

Bagudu acknowledged the efforts of the military and other security agencies in tackling the nation’s security challenges and appealed to Nigerians to be less apprehensive in confronting the enemies of peace and unity.

“They are a negligible few and we should all brace the odds,” he said.

“The issue of ensuring security in the nation is a collective responsibility and as such all hands must be on deck in this direction.”

Bagudu also reiterated his pledge to lead the rescue efforts of the abducted students and staff of the Federal Government College (FGC) Birnin Yauri.

Bandits on June 17 invaded the college and abducted some teachers and students.

But a military team was said to have so far rescued about 11 of the abductees.

“We were not elected only to stay in the office, but to do anything to safeguard lives and property of all law abiding citizens,” he said.

“We have to do everything to guarantee peace, unity and security even to the extent of sacrificing our lives as ordained by religious scriptures.”