The Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, on Thursday
expressed concern over the presence of the dreaded Boko Haram and the Ansaru
terrorists in two local government areas of Birnin-Gwari and Giwa in the state.
The governor stated this while receiving the 2022 First
Quarter Security Report at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, Kaduna.
The report presented by the state Commissioner of Internal
Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said 360 persons were killed either
by bandits, terrorists or communal violent clash in the state between January
and March 2022.
The governor explained that one of the kidnap victims, a
roommate at the university, told him that the terrorists in one of their
conversations, said the “forest in Kaduna is better than that of Sambisa so
they should all relocate here.”
The presence of the terrorist groups, especially in the
North-West is potentially more serious and dangerous than that of the
North-East, urging the military and other security agencies to take note.
El-Rufai noted that with the presence of these terror
groups, the problem of insecurity had moved from the Northeastern part of the
country to the Northwest.
This is just as s the Governor also muted the idea of
clearing three communities of Rijana, Katari and Akilibu, all in the Kachia
Local Government Area of the state over their alleged involvement in kidnapping
incidents along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway over the years.
The governor said, “It is unfortunate that in spite of our
investment in human, material and other resources to stem the tide of
criminality in the state, the levels are still a source of concern.
“This presentation has brought out new emerging concerns
that I will want the security council to take note of and discuss and maybe to
proffer some suggestions.
“The first great concern is the emergence of Boko Haram
terrorists enclave as well as activities of Ansaru, particularly in
Birnin-Gwari and Chikun Local Government.
“Among those kidnapped from the train, was a former roommate
and classmate of mine who was released upon payment of a ransom and throughout
the period that he was in captivity, it was very clear that the terrorists were
making comments like the forests in Kaduna are even better than Sambisa, so,
they should all relocate here. I think this is an area we should all be
concerned about.
“And that is why we have been making the point that the
problem of insecurity now has moved from the North-East to the North-West. What
is happening in North-West is far more serious and potentially more dangerous
than we have ever had in the North-East and we will like the military and other
security agencies to take notice of this before it gets out of control.”
El-Rufai also expressed concern that the terrorists had gone
expertise in bomb-making, saying that this “because Boko Haram and Ansaru
elements have moved into the state.”
“The second which is related to the first is the use of
Improvised Explosive Devices (EIDs) and mines in the state. We have been lucky
thanks to the Police we have been able to defuse most of them without causing
major loss of lives. This is still a major concern. Because this shows very
clearly the movement from banditry to terrorism with expertise in making
explosive devices. Again this is because Boko Haram and Ansaru elements have
moved into the state,” he added.
He also said approval would soon be given to the Kaduna
State Vigilance Service for the recruitment of additional 1000 personnel to
complement the efforts of the military, police and other security agencies in
the fight against terrorism in the state.
“From what we have seen, the security agencies are
overstretched, we really need to ramp up our recruitment of our vigilance
service volunteers, I think the 1,000 we trained have been very useful in
assisting the Army, the Police and other security agencies and perhaps this is
the time to get another 1,000 ad send them to Police College for training,”
El-Rufai added.
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