Bala Mohammed, the governor of Bauchi state, on Friday raised alarm over the activities of bandits building up around Alkaleri Local government area of the state.

Mohammed who was at the presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday, said he met with President Bola Tinubu on the development, where h expressed serious concern over the situation.

Mohammed told State House Journalists after meeting with the President that the development has forced residents to flee from their homes in search of safety in neighbouring states.

Mohammed, while calling for urgent response to stop the activities of the bandits, said they are targeting economic area, because of the ” traces of oil and gas possibilities, a lot of mining activities and so we cannot afford that bad development”.

“I came here on behalf of the people and government of Bauchi State to see His Excellency, Mr. President, pertaining to the situation of insecurity in the Alkaleri local government of Bauchi state where some bandits have become so emboldened and they have taken over so many ungoverned spaces there, around the Daji Dam.

“We have seen some sporadic clashes and skirmishes between the bandits and security agencies, but it appears that the security agencies and all of us are overwhelmed and the situation is escalating to a level where it will become a big humanitarian crisis.

He stated that out of fear and paranoia, most of the inhabitants are running to other states and other local governments at this time of fasting.

Mohammed who stated that he had visited the area with heads of security agencies in the state, added that ” they saw the situation and brought a report to Mr. president and sought for special presidential intervention and we know him to be somebody that is very serious with security.

He commended President Tinubu for agreeing to see him, without any prior appointment, adding that ” I only prayed with him and immediately he saw me, he agreed to see me to discussed the issue.

Speaking on the President’s response, he described the response as “very positive”.

“He has already given directives and they have already swung into action, just like they are doing in Kwara and Niger states

” It is something akin to what we have, in some ungoverned spaces and forests.around Bauchi

“On our own, we are trying to seek for opportunity for the governors that are contiguous to that forest, such as Taraba, Plateau, Gombe and Bauchi to

have some summit and with the aid of the security agencies to address this situation once and for all.

“But because we cannot afford it to degenerate further because Bauchi has enjoyed a lot of peace for the last 10 years and this is coming at a time when there is a lot of interest in our investment and they are coming to an economic area where we have that traces of oil and gas possibilities, a lot of mining activities and so we cannot afford that bad development.

Mohammed said the state is fully ready for State Police, adding that ” and we have always supported state police because it will reduce the burden on the federal government and it will make us more responsive and more responsible as state governors, although it is expensive.

” Certainly, it is something that must be done because security of life and property is the main thing that you can provide. I have seen the importance of security in my state because we have had a lot of security, good situation where some micro and macroeconomic activities are going on and it has really raised the GDP of my state.

Speaking on the spate of defections ravaging the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, insisted he remains a member of the PDP despite the defections.

“I have always said that I am a PDP man. I know the federal government and the importance of partnership. This is time for governance.

“Of course any governor can leave because if it is Fintiri’s decision to leave, it may not be my decision. I’m not coming here for defection, I’m coming here for governance, for partnership. I’m coming to a father of the nation to give us support and he has answered positively and that settles it.

“This is the situation. It’s an unfolding situation. PDP is still there. As my brother, you will give us kudos for what we have done in the FCT. At least you can see we are better than the big coalition….

“I don’t want to mention them because there are people I respect in that coalition. But PDP is a party that is everywhere, in every world, in every corner of the country. It has a brand that has survived over the past two decades. And our outing in the FCT where we won one out of six, and about sixteen counsellors, we are moving, certainly we have challenges of litigations,this and that, but it is So with every party.

“Even APC will have to watch their end because they are becoming big like the PDP. PDP became big and it exploded and I am not feeling lonely because I know my state, at least and my intention is to make sure I stay back, because elections are won from the polling units, elections are won locally and not Nationally.” (Business Day)

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