Insecurity: 360 killed January - March Says El-Rufai

Insecurity in the North-West, especially in Kaduna state has assumed a worse dimension with the confirmation that no fewer than 360 persons lost their lives within the first quarter of this year by terrorist, banditry or communal clashes.

More worrisome is the fact that terrorist groups, the Boko Haram and Ansaru have taken over two local governments of the state -Birnin Gwar and Giwa.

Besides the casualty rate, over 1,300 persons suffered different degrees of injuries within the same period in the state occasioned by insecurity.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai said this yesterday in Kaduna while receiving the 2022 First Quarter Security Report at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, Kaduna.

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The report presented by the state Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said 360 persons were killed either by bandits, terrorists or communal violent clash in the state between January and March 2022.

The governor also expressed concern over the high incidence on the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) in the state, which according to him suggests that the terrorists have moved into the state.

According to El-Rufai, ‘the problem of insecurity now has moved from the North East to the North West’.

‘The situation in the North West is far more serious and could be potentially more dangerous than we ever had in the North East. And we would like the military and security agencies to take notice of this before it goes out of control’, he warned.

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The governor further noted that the high incidence in the use of the IEDs and mines in the state have been more frequent, but thanked members of the police force for their collaborative efforts in ensuring that no life had been lost thus far.

El-Rufai said that it showed very clearly that, ‘a movement from banditry to terrorism with expertise in making explosive devices.. And again, this is because Boko Haram and Ansaru elements have moved into the state’.

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The governor also lamented the high rate of drug abuse in the state. He however, commended the state Task Force which is led by the NDLEA, Traditional rulers and community leaders that according to him have been giving confidential information to guide the action of the NDLEA.

His words; ‘These bandits take drugs before they commit their crimes; virtually every crime is related to drug abuse. I think we must cut the supply chain to enable us to control the demand.’

Nigerian Pilot