The Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Dr Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu has expressed satisfaction with the gallant efforts of the Nigerian Army in fighting the menace of banditry in Kebbi State.
The governor made this known while receiving the acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division, Sokoto on a courtesy in Government House, Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday.
He said: “On issue of security in Kebbi State, it is a well known fact that the military has made us proud. We have no course whatsoever not to thank the officers and the men.
“When I came as a governor, people have abandoned their towns and villages, abandoned their farmlands because of fear of banditry, especially in the Southern part of Kebbi State.
“And everybody knows that Kebbi is an agricgarian state, especially its Southern part, where we produce so many cash crops. We sad down with the security agencies and we put everything on the table, we X-rayed and arrived at a conclusion and this yielded positive results.”
The governor added that his administration would do everything possible to assist the military to succeed, assuring that: “Because of your efforts, many people now go back to their farms.
“I charge you to continue with the efforts to enable people sleep in their houses with their two eyes close and go to their farms without any fear of bandits.
“Brig.-Gen. Sani Ahmed has done well, we have to say it, we cannot count the number of times we don’t allow him to rest until problem of insecurity are solved. Therefore , we have not regretted working with him,” he assured.
Gov. Idris advised the new acting GOC to build on the legacies of his predecessor, whom according him discharged his constitutional duties diligently.
Earlier, the new acting GOC, Brig.-Gen. Ibikunle Ademola-Ajose described his visit as nostalgic and home coming, “because two decades ago, I was in Kebbi, I served in 1 Battalion as a Captain. Therefore, coming back home is very heartwarming.
“I am here to introduce myself as the new GOC 8 Div. I must sincerely appreciate His Excellency and people of Kebbi for the support given to the military especially for the support in the fight against criminals.”
The new GOC described the support of the state government to the military, especially in the provision of vehicles and other logistic support as a moral booster to the personnel to enable them discharge their constitutional responsibility effectively.
