President Muhammadu Buhari has met behind closed door with Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Speaking to State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting on Tuesday, the governor said that he updated the president on security development in Kaduna State where about 40 villagers were killed by terrorists three days ago.
The governor, who was accompanied by the Commissioner for Internal Security, Samuel Aruwan, stated that he asked for the intervention of the President for the deployment of more security operatives and comprehensive operations.
According to him, the security agencies have been overstretched as they are involved in various operations across the country. He called for urgent presidential intervention to check the activities of bandits and other criminals in the state.
He said, “You have to understand the limitations that they face before you conclude that they are not doing enough. They are doing a lot. But is it enough? Certainly not, much more needs to be done.
“But can they do more with the number of policemen they have and the number of soldiers? I don’t know. We need to ramp up recruitment in the Nigerian Police, we need to ramp up recruitment in the Nigerian armed forces.
“We have too few number and our armed forces are overstretched. They are operating in several states, about 32 to 33 states, the last time we checked, and how many are they?
“So, we must understand the constraint that they face and sympathize with them.
“But, with the acquisition of more advanced equipment from Jordan, China, Turkey and the United States, we expect that the kinetic capabilities of our armed forces will be greatly improved. So, we hope to see the end of this insecurity.”
According to the governor, there is nothing like repentant bandits.
“There is nothing like repentant terrorists. The only repentant bandit is the one that is dead. Our intention in the state is to kill them (terrorists), let them go and see God.
“We receive security reports, we know a lot about the bandits and where they are and their activities.
“But you must understand that the intelligence has to be acted upon. And if the security forces are unwilling or unable to reach the locations where these bandits are, then there is nothing we can do as a state government.
“Federal security forces are not under our direct control. We support them, we work with them, the intelligence is being provided, but the truth of the matter is that our military and police are very few in number and they are overstretched,” he stated.
(NAN).
