Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has hinted that governors of the North were in constant touch with each to ensure that Nigerians living in the region are safe.
This was just as he decried the spate of insecurity across the country, noting that “banditry is fast becoming a lucrative industry.”
According to El-Rufai, it is time for all to come together to end the menace of banditry ravaging the land.
“Banditry has become an industry and we must work together to put an end to it. Now, it is not just the bandits but there is a network of logistics supporting the banditry.
“The informants, those that supply them food and drugs, live within us. The bandits may not live within us, many of them live in the forests but their logistics chain consists of people that live with us. They are the ones that identify those to be kidnapped because kidnappers target people in their homes,” he said.
The governor stated these while receiving in audience the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba and other leaders of the church on courtesy call on him on Thursday.
El-Rufai also asked Nigerian leaders to calm nerves in order to engender peaceful co-existence in the country.
“Those of us that have a responsibility for law and order, for ensuring peaceful co-existence, should rise up to the occasion and do it,” he said.
He assured all residents of the state of their safety following hostility in other parts of the country.
According to him, northern governors have consulted each other and have guaranteed “the safety and security of everyone living in northern Nigeria, in spite of what is happening in other parts of the country.”
“We are aware that there are groups that are meeting in Kaduna and addressing a press conference and they are free to do that. The freedom of expression is guaranteed in the constitution.
“However, if they issue any threat to any citizen of Nigeria living in Kaduna State, they will be arrested on the spot and we will prosecute them vigorously. We will not tolerate anyone threatening anybody in Kaduna State. And that is what we expect every other governor to do in his state.
“We are aware that there are groups that are meeting in Kaduna and addressing a press conference and they are free to do that. The freedom of expression is guaranteed in the constitution.
“However, if they issue any threat to any citizen of Nigeria living in Kaduna state, they will be arrested on the spot and we will prosecute them vigorously. We will not tolerate anyone threatening anybody in Kaduna State. And that is what we expect every other governor to do in his state,” he warned.
The governor expressed concern on the spate of insecurity across the country and warned against linking a particular ethnic group to crime.