Yemisi Izuora
The Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Dr Kayode Fayemi, has given an assurance that states and the Federal Government were working together to end banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal acts.
He made the disclosure on Tuesday, December 22, in Katsina when he led three Governors on a solidarity visit to Governor Aminu Masari over the recent abduction of students of the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara.
Fayemi, who is also the Governor of Ekiti State, said that the governors were on top of the situation.
He said: “For us, the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), we believe that we not only have to be on top of banditry, kidnapping and criminality generally, but we also have to be on top of the causes of these problems.
“Social inequality and poverty are key issues and we need to ensure that our governments; our states pry away our young people from the merchants of death who are using them as cannon fodder for this criminal brigandage.
“We can only do that through providing them with alternative means of livelihood; and likewise support system that will not entice them to these elements that are endangering the whole of our country.
“And this is something that we are committed to as governors, in working with Mr President, so that we don’t keep on talking about something over and over again.
“We are all tired, we are all frustrated that these issues are happening.
“But we know that with concerted efforts on our part as governors and the commitment of the Federal Government; the professional conduct of our security services; and our social investment programme intensified, we shall see the end of these criminalities, brigandage in our states.”
Fayemi said that the governors were in Katsina in solidarity with their Katsina counterpart; and the people of the state.
“We reassure and give the people hope that help is on the way; and that the end is not as far as we all think,” he said.
He further said that governors would work together to return the country to peace, progress, development, and prosperity.
The delegation were the Governors of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, Kebbi State, Abubakar Bagudu, as well as Jigawa, Badaru Abubakar.