Against the backdrop of fast spreading insecurity in North western states of Zamfara, Kaduna and recently, Katsina, President Muhammmadu Buhari on Thursday met behind closed doors with Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State and top security aides at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting, BusinessDay gathered, was called to review current strategies to deal with the recently escalating cases of insecurity that has spread from Zamfara, Kaduna and now Katsina, the President’s home state.
Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina state had earlier in the week lamented that his state has been under siege from the rampaging armed men that were hitherto terrorizing Zamfara and Kaduna states.
Yari, while speaking with State House Correspondents after meeting with the President, debunked claims that insecurity in the area was politically motivated, saying that they were “bandits operating from the forests.”
Yari noted that the “armed bandits” take advantage of the places where the security men are absent to strike, adding that “ they don’t control any part of the area, they only come out from their hideouts to operate and move back into the forests.”
Yari who noted that government was putting new strategies in place to deal with the situation, however attributed the escalating insecurity in the area to poor knowledge of terrains by security operatives
“ They ( bandits) take advantage of their knowledge of the terrain to strike. As you know, most of the Policemen do not understand the terrain.”
Yari also debunked speculation that the security situation in the area might impact negatively on the ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC , to conduct a free, fair and credible election in the area.
“ It will not affect the elections because, they only operate in areas were there are no security.
“They are in the bush, they come from the forests, they hit and run. They understand the terrain better than the security agencies, that is why it is easy for them to successfully attack and escape into the bush.
“I can assure you that if the security operatives are very serious, very soon this whole problem should be over.”
On the probability of declaration of State of Emergency in the area, Yari disclosed that he was not opposed to such declarations, as he is fully prepared to support such move if and when put in place by the Federal government
“ l am in full support. It is because there are people there that l am a Governor. So anything that will bring peace to the area will be fully supported by me,” he said.
Details of the outcome of the meeting were still being awaited as at the time of filing this report.
