Khadijat Saidu, Birning Kebbi
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt General Faruk Yahaya has urged traditional rulers in Kebbi State to cooperate with the Army in its fight to end banditry in the state.
He made the call on Tuesday at the palace of the Sarkin Bargun Kaoje, Alhaji Mustapha Usman Adamu when he paid a courtesy visit to the monarch in Kaoje Bagudo local Government Area.
The COAS said because of their strategic position in the community, they must not be left out in the security architecture of their domains.
He urged traditional rulers and residents of various communities in Kebbi to always furnish the military with useful information that will help in their fight against banditry in the state.
Traditional rulers according to him have important roles to play in the fight against banditry and other criminal elements activities in the state.
“There is important information in the disposal of traditional rulers that may help the military in their constitutional duties to improve security situation in the various communities of the state,” he averred.
The Army Boss further said that as leaders of their communities, they have a duty to be on the lookout and report any suspicious or strange activities, movement of criminal elements to security agents for people in their domains to live in peace.
Lt General Yahaya commissioned one kilometer road constructed by the army to honour its procurement Director, Major General Nasiru Usman Muktar who is from Kebbi State.
He said the road was constructed to tackle basic amenities challenge such as borehole, electricity being faced by people in the community. He said it will also accelerate commercial activities in the area.
In his response, Governor Atiku Bagudu said it was heart-warming for him to see military officers imparting positively in the lives of their community people.
He said his administration would continue to liaise with the military in its effort to tackle insecurity occasioned by bandits attacks.
“This administration will make sure it provided the military with whatever it needed to fight insecurity in kebbi State”, he said.
The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Babale Umar Yauri,mni enjoined the community to reciprocate the military gesture by ensuring the road is maintained and we’ll utilized.
Earlier, the District Head of Kaoje, Alhaji Usman Adamu called on the army to establish a military based in the area to check excesses of the bandits whom he said are making incursion from Niger state, Niger and Benin republic borders through a large forest in the area.
“This is the second time we are receiving a high profile figure from the military in Kaoje. The first time was in 1999 when General Ibrahim Babangida came to commission Tunga bridge/ Kaoje road. Your visit is the second one”., he said.
He commended the army for the road saying it would make the daily activities of his people more convenient and easier.
The Acting Head of Service, Alhaji Safiyanu Garba Bena, commissioners , politicians , traditional leaders were among the important personalities who attended the commissioning ceremony of the new road constructed by the army in Kaoje .
