…Says Niger State Is For All Nigerians
From Saka Bolaji, Minna
Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, has issued a stern warning to anybody or group of miscreants planning to breach the relative peace in the state, insisting that Niger state is for all Nigerians.
The governor said that the unfortunate security challenges in the South East of the country fuelled by the agitation for Biafra should not be basis for any attempt at reprisals on innocent citizens.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, Governor Sani Bello noted that it was the duty of the state government, first, to protect lives and property of residents and would, therefore not compromise in carrying out its constitutional responsibility.
The governor stated that the state security apparatus have been mobilised to immediately commence patrol, particularly within the areas identified as hotspot, to nip in the bud any attempt to cause unrest in the state.
Governor Sani Bello said the state government would not fold its arms and allow some overzealously repugnant individuals hold people to ransom by instilling fear, anxiety and tension amongst them for their selfish end.
His words: “Nigerlites are a peaceful people and very accommodating to all Nigerians irrespective of their socio-political and ethnic divide. Therefore, anybody caught trying to cause trouble will be regarded as a criminal trying to institute anarchy in order to vandalize and loot people’s property.
“Niger state is very central in Nigeria’s evolution and has always been a melting pot of people from various part of the world. Some of the prominent Igbos who became reference point in Nigeria’s political history were indigenes of Niger state by birth. Both Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe, Owelle of Onitsha and Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu were born in Zungeru, Niger state.”
He called on law-abiding residents not to panic because of the events in the South East but to go about their legitimate businesses assuring of their safety against any potential threats to their lives and properties.
The governor wrote: “I enjoin all of you to go about your normal, daily activities and to be rest assured that the state government, in collaboration with the security agencies, will apprehend, isolate and deal decisively with anyone who attempts to create disaffection and breach of peace amongst our people”.
Governor Sani Bello used the opportunity to also remind residents to remain proactively vigilant and assist the security agencies by promptly reporting any suspicious activity and or criminality within their locality. He appealed to citizens to shun sentiment and rumour especially on the social media.
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