TheCable

Abdulaziz Yari, senator representing Zamfara west, says the good work of President Bola Tinubu is returning peace and security to the state.

Yari, a former governor of Zamfara, spoke to journalists on Thursday when he visited Tinubu at the presidential villa in Abuja.

He said cattle rustling and kidnapping have been major security threats fuelled by illegal gold mining activities.

He said the deployment of security personnel to the state by the president is restoring peace in banditry hit areas.

“When I was there, I didn’t believe that the issue of mining was one of the problems but when I got out, I began to look at it, attending so many lectures because the people that are causing the trouble, I want you to look at it and study carefully the relationship between the mining and insecurities,” he said.

“A year after I left the office, some groups protested in Kaura Namoda local government and said they didn’t understand why we are saying the relationship between the insecurity and the mining are not together for any reason.

“The locals would be attacked almost on a daily basis, whereas where people are doing the mining are free, there is no trouble.

“But I can tell you that the issues of mining and insecurity have a relationship and I believe the president is doing his best because he has started talking with the national security adviser on the issue of the insecurity and much progress has been made.

“I think in the last one month, in Shinkafi area and part of Zurmi, they are working on part of Anka and Chaffe, which I used to get the brief from my colleague who is the chairman of security in the senate.”

Speaking on the reason for his visit, he said it was to encourage the president, adding that Tinubu’s job is also to ensure that the All Progressives Congress (APC) remains in power.

“As usual, I believe I was part of his team before now and during the campaign, and since he was inaugurated as president, this is my first time here,” he said.

“I came, first to congratulate him, and also to encourage him on the work he has started. It is not an easy one.

“It’s a very difficult task, but he has to remain focused and determined because Nigeria is a huge country. But as he said earlier, he has no reason to complain because he asked for the job.”