By Dipo Olowookere
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday expressed his displeasure over the killing of 47 persons from his home state, Katsina, by some bandits.
Mr Buhari, in a statement issued in Abuja today by his Senior Special Assistance on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, said he was “deeply saddened” by the unfortunate incident.
While extending his sympathies to the families of the victims, the President called on the people to show more vigilance by reporting the activities of criminal elements in their midst.
He said efforts would be made to ensure those fomenting trouble in the society would be severely dealt with and directed security operatives to track them.
Last Sunday, some hoodlums attacked residents of communities in three local government areas of Katsina State, killing 47 persons and destroying properties in the process.
The bandits were said to have invaded the communities to steal some of the palliatives shared to residents by government as a result of the coronavirus pandemic in the country and the world in general.
In the statement, Mr Buhari further “called on Nigerians not to despair because this administration is ever determined to defeat and crush these criminal elements taking advantage of the lockdown to attack their victims.”
According to Mr Shehu, “President Buhari said he will not tolerate this large scale killing of innocent people by the bandits,” adding that “in line with my commitment to security of the people, these attacks will be met with decisive force.”
“The President directed the security agencies not to rest on their oars or lower their guard which will create a vacuum for the bandits to strike,” the statement said.
