Buhari, Yari meet over bandits’ attacks in Zamfara

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State met on Tuesday, over continuing bandits’ attacks on people of the state.

The governor told State House corespondents after the meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, that he had come to brief the president of the prevailing condition, following the deployment of the military to the state.

He said he would like the military presence to be sustained until the bandits were completely flushed out.

The governor regretted the attacks on the people which had led to the death of many, but was delighted that many of the citizens kidnapped by the bandits had been freed.

Yari stated: “As you are aware, some villages in Zamfara State have been under attacks by bandits and the president has carried out his constitutional responsibility by sending security men to the state.

“So I am here to brief him on the security situation in the state. The operation is ongoing and is going on successfully. I am rushing back there to visit the troops, in order to boost their morale.

“I will be with them throughout the week. In this kind of situation, you have to be with the people in order to show them that you are concerned as a leader.

“I believe the security agencies are doing their best and we will continue as government to give them the support needed to make the operation successful.

“We are hoping that the military will remain there for longer time and we are ready to take care of their logistics.

“The problem we have is that the state is surrounded by forests. The military men there are currently in about six camps. We hope they will stay there for a while.

“We thank God that the 40 people are back with their families. We have retrieved them from their abductors and we have returned them to their families without any injury. We also did not pay any ransom.”