Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, has said that at least 27 persons are kidnapped in the state every month. During a stop-over at the palace of Mai Tangale before proceeding on his re-election campaign, yesterday, the governor lamented that the situation was not as bad when he assumed office in 2019.
According to him, in 2019, a total of 12 persons were kidnapped, but rose to 44 the subsequent year. He lamented: “I received 27 cases of kidnapping between September and October this year alone from the Directorate of State Services (DSS.)”
Vowing to ensure improved security of the area and the entire state, if re-elected next year, Governor Yahaya directed the Commissioner for Justice, Zubairu Umar, to ensure speedy trial of those arrested during the tussle for Mai Tangale stool in which no fewer than 10 people died and properties destroyed.
He urged the commissioner, who is also the director-general of his campaign committee, to dispose of the case before election.
Meanwhile, security operatives, led by the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police (CP), Yekini Ayoku, have taken an assessment tour of communities that were attacked in Southern Kaduna by terrorists, pledging to apprehend and punish the criminals.
Police Public relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Muhammed Jalige, said yesterday that the CP undertook an on-the-spot assessment tour of the scenes of attack at Malagum and Sokwong in Kagoro, Kaura Local Council, which claimed lives and property.
According to him, the CP, while interfacing with members of the affected communities, commiserated with them and pleaded for calm, while assuring that the command and other security agencies would do everything within their capacity to enhance the security of the area, restore normalcy and prevent reoccurrence.
Ayoku further pledged that the perpetrators will be smoked out and deserved justice meted on them. Jalige stated: “The CP and his entourage, including the command’s tactical commanders, joined by the Sector 7 Commander, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), later visited the Chief of Kagoro and the Emir of Jema’a.”
He enjoined the royal fathers to impress it on their subjects to live in peace with one another, while soliciting their cooperation in encouraging/facilitating communal dialogues towards dousing the tension in the area.
