In response to the recent spike of deadly terror attacks in Sokoto and Katsina States, President Muhammadu Buhari has dispatched a high-level delegation, made up of the heads of the nation’s intelligence and security services to the States.
According to a statement by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity) on Friday, 10 December, 2021, the president expects the delegation to present an immediate situation report as well as recommendations on actions to follow to effectively deal with the worrying situation.
TheFact Nigeria reports that five people were confirmed dead after bandits opened fire on a vehicle conveying 24 people from Sabon Birni to Rijiyar Ladan village in Sabon Birni local government area of Sokoto State on Tuesday, 7 December. Last month, suspected armed bandits reportedly killed at least 15 people in Goronyo and Illela local government areas of Sokoto State. Governor Aminu Tambuwal, who confirmed the attack on Monday, said 12 people were killed in Illela while three lost their lives in Goronyo. In Katsina, the State government, in a report, last month, said bandits had killed no fewer than 213 persons and kidnapped 676 others across local government areas of the state between July and October 2021.
According to Shehu, the delegation is led by the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (Rtd) and made up of the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, the Director-General of the DSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar and the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Samuel Adebayo.
“This is coming barely 24 after the President inaugurated sophisticated Navy Ships, Patrol Boats, and a helicopter at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island in Lagos to boost security at the maritime borders,” the statement said.
