By Rapheal

Copyright thesun

From Olanrewaju Lawal Birnin Kebbi

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has condemned the incessant attacks by bandits and Lakurawa terrorists on the people of Kebbi State and urged the state governor, Dr Nasir Idris, not to relent in his efforts to protect the state against the aggressors.

National Chairman of the ACF, Mamman Mike Osuman stated this during the Forum’s visit to Dr Idris in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital, alongside Board of Trustees (BOT) chairman, Alhaji Dahatu Waziri Dutse and other members of the Forum.

Osuman described the insecurity being experienced across the Northern region as a trying period, which would be over soon, stressing that many bereaved families were still in trauma and sorrow.

According to him, “Your Excellency, the ACF salutes you. We are proud of you and your administration and understand that these are trying times in which the Kebbi State would need to sustain a conscious vigilance watch. We share the pain of families and that of Kebbi State Government over the loss of our brethren, who were either maimed or murdered by the Lakurawas; an armed criminal militia group involved in banditry, kidnappings, cattle rustling, armed robbery and violent attacks on farmers, schools and villages.

“We know of the vicious criminal activities, caused by negative consequences and trauma on the stability, economic, social and cultural lives of the people of Kebbi State. Like what was done by two of our nation’s former presidents who invoked philosophical principles to contain terrorism and militancy, your excellency may consider the strategy of bringing together some of the arrested criminals that have expressed atonement and expose them to programmes of vocational training and psycho-social support that will ensure their de-radicalisation and re-integration into their communities.

“We remain grateful for the privilege and honour accorded the ACF in this visit and fervently pray for the good health of your excellency and your family and also trust that to your excellency will leave behind for posterity, an amazing legacy.”

He also informed the governor about the 25 years anniversary of the Forum coming up in November and solicited the support of his administration.

The BOT chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Waziri Dutse informed the Governor about a few achievements recorded by the organisation since its inception 25 years ago, stressing that they had established linkages and contacts with political and community leaders in order to harmonise efforts towards finding solutions to peculiar problems facing the Northern States and the country as a whole.

He disclosed that the Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani has handed over the Certificate of Occupancy of their permanent houses in Kaduna to the Forum, of which they were paying rent to the state government.

Governor Idris, who commended the Forum for the historical visit, informed the members that only the Kebbi State Government provides free education in Nigeria.

He disclosed that his administration had distributed over 100 Hilux vans to security agencies in the state to strengthen them to provide maximum security for the people of the state, stressing that farmers in Kebbi South have gone back to their various farms without any hindrances.