Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State says investment in quality holds the key to eradicating banditry across the country.
Against this background, Bello said his administration would be investing heavily in the education sector.
The governor spoke with journalists in Abuja on Sunday, saying that the inclusion of Islamic studies in school curriculum in Niger State was also strategic.
He also explained that religious and cultural sentiments were responsible for the inability of some parents to train their children in schools.
“We are discussing with some religious leaders who now said that their interest is for the child to memorise the Qur’an. In order to put them in school, we now include Islamic studies in the school curriculum and we’re also ready to employ mallams as teachers,” he said.
Bello, who expressed dissatisfaction with children roaming the streets, said the development had made some of them susceptible to mischief.
“When these children are not sent to school but exposed to the harsh weather of the streets, they become a threat to security and all manner of violence,” he said.
Bello also emphasised the determination of his administration to tackle insecurity and banditry by investing massively in education. He blamed the incidence of banditry in the state on incursions from neighbouring states as well as pecuniary motives.
The governor restated the commitment of his administration to ending banditry and insecurity in the state through community policing.
Bello further called for stronger collaboration between security agencies and indigenes to end insecurity and banditry in the state.
According to him, Niger is blessed by its population and landmass which must be utilised in transiting the state to demographic dividends.
