Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has on Thursday announced that there are over 10,000 armed bandits that are attacking villagers in communities in Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state.

Mohammed stated this when he visited the internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled Mansur, Yalau, Futuk, Duguri, and Gwana communities of Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state due to recent bandit attacks.

The governor, while sympathising with the IDPs sheltered in a government learning facility at Kashere Local Government Area of Gombe, a neighbouring state, described the situation as “very bad”.

Mohammed, who appealed for urgent intervention from the Federal Government, said his people have been pushed out by about “10,000 well-armed bandits”.

He further said that the bandits are recruiting locals and outsiders, including former illegal miners.

Mohammed praised the Gombe governor for hosting the IDPs and vowed to work with security agencies to protect the affected communities.

“We’ll meet with the President tomorrow to get directives for the military and police to tackle the issue. We’ll use technology and other means to decimate the bandits,” the governor said.

He announced plans to recruit 2,000 youth into vigilante groups to be trained as forest guards, emphasising community involvement in protecting themselves.

He thanked Kashere community for hosting the IDPs and apologised for any inconvenience caused. “This is the first time we’re facing this challenge, but we’ll overcome it,” he said.

Earlier speaking, the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, assured that more security personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order in the affected areas.

“I want to assure the people that we are committed to the immediate restoration of peace and security in that environment. All strategies and arrangements have been put in place to ensure that peace and security return immediately to that axis,” the CP said.

He vowed that the police and other security agencies would not allow any space in Bauchi State to remain ungoverned. (The Guardian)