The Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has begun plans to partner with four other states in a bid to flush out armed bandits and militants hiding on the forest lining along their borders.
This was made known on Tuesday in MInna, the Niger State capital.
The other states to be involved in the operation are Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara.
The Republic of Benin is also being consulted on the issue.
While taking the lead by inviting his colleague governors of the affected states to a meeting at a date yet to be fixed, Bello sought for a joint force that can flush out the armed bandits and militants in the forest along the belt of the states.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command, Emmanuel Amore, who briefed newsmen after he had a closed door meeting with members of the state House of Assembly over security challenges in the state.
Amore said: “It has been discovered that the large forest that cut the border line of Niger, Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara States as well as to Republic of Benin harbours some militants and armed bandits.
“They hide in the forest, come out to unsuspecting public to wreck havoc and run back to the forest.
“The good news is that the governor (Bello) has taken it as a challenge to work with governors of these neighbouring states to jointly operate and rout out these armed bandits and militants hiding on the forest lining along same belt across the states.”
The Police boss was summoned to appear before the House following a motion by Hon. Umar Jiya of Mashegu Constituency.
Mashegu called on the Niger State Government to prevail on the Commissioner of Police of the state to upgrade security surveillance and anti-robbery campaign in Mashegu Local Government Area of the state.
The other motion was filed by Hon. John Paul Bahago of Munya Constituency.
It called on the state government to impress it upon the Federal Government to draft men of the Nigerian Army to curb the persistent menace of armed robbery attacks in the area.
The House then directed the Commissioner of Police to appear before it explain the security situation in the state.
Amore said he was able to brief the lawmakers of the security achievements recorded over time and also highlighted the challenges of policing the state with the largest land mass in the country.
He said: “I was able to brief the lawmakers of what we are doing, especially our new drive of Community Policing.”
He said this was borne out of the reality that security of lives and property require the involvement of all.
On Monday, Bello sought for the support of the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, in this regard also.
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