TheCable

Babagana Monguno, national security adviser, and Yusuf Bichi, director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS) have been dispatched to Sokoto and Katsina by President Muhammadu Buhari following the recent killings in the states.

Usman Alkali Baba, inspector-general of police (IGP), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and Samuel Adebayo, chief of defence intelligence, are also part of the delegation.

A total of 23 travellers were said to have been burnt to death when gunmen opened fire on a bus in Sokoto early in the week.

On Wednesday, Rabe Nasir, commissioner for science and technology in Katsina state, was killed at his residence.

In a statement on Friday, Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, said Buhari is expecting a situation report and recommendations from the team.

“President Muhammadu Buhari Friday dispatched a high-level delegation, made up of the heads of the nation’s intelligence and security services to Sokoto and Katsina States in response to the recent spike in bandit activities,” the statement reads.

“The president is expecting an immediate situation report and recommendations on actions to follow to effectively deal with the worrying situation.

“This is coming barely 24 after the president inaugurated sophisticated Navy Ships, Patrol Boats, and a helicopter at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island in Lagos to boost security at the maritime borders.”