Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris, has stated that no part of the state is under the control of armed bandits. He made the assertion while opening a security summit organized by the Arewa media practitioners forum in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital.
According to Governor Idris, insurgents often attack and retreat to neighboring states like Zamfara, but the state’s security forces have prevented them from taking control of any town, village, or local government area in Kebbi.
Governor Idris praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support in the fight against insurgency and banditry across the country. The Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar III, also spoke at the summit, calling for unity across Nigeria to eradicate insurgency, stating that bandits do not discriminate in their attacks.
Former Chief of Army Staff, General Abdurahman Danbazau, attributed the escalation of insecurity to poverty, poor education, and lack of affordable healthcare. He urged northern leaders to implement solutions discussed at the summit and criticized Western leaders for branding Nigeria a country of concern, stating that the country’s rich mineral deposits are of particular interest to them.