By Olukayode Idowu
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has assured of its willingness to collaborate with other security agencies to rid Niger State of all the criminal elements that have continued to terrorising the North Central state lately.
The Commandant General of the Corps, Dr. Ahmed Audi gave the pledge on Tuesday while paying courtesy visit on Niger State Governor Umar Muhammed Bago, during his working visit of the state.
According to a release on Wednesday signed by the NSCDC Director of the Public Relations, Babawale Afolabi, the Commandant General added that the Corps will strengthen their working synergy with sister agencies in the State.
He said: “We came around to see for ourselves, a kind of on- the -spot assessment, of the security situation in Niger State and to familiarize with you. We hope to work on our synergy with other security agencies in the state and create better security atmosphere for people of Niger State.”
In his address, Bago appreciated the timely visit of the NSCDC boss but lamented the nefarous activities of the bamdits, cattle rustlers, illegal miners among other criminalities in the State adding that the farmers are worst hit as many have abandoned the farm lands due to fear of being attacked.
He lamented that: “Niger State is being referred to as food basket of the country largely due to our largest land mass in the country (about 76.36km2 which is also suitable for agriculture and being made use by the government and large percentage of the people. But the growing security concern meant that our people are constantly at the mercy of bandits and other criminal elements.”
The governor, who also decried the nefarious activities of the illegal miners in the state, promised to continue to work on how to better equiped the security agencies in the State by donating more vehicles and housing units
The NSCDC boss who also seized the occasion to appreciate the governor’s kind gesture for recently donating Hilux patrol vans and other security gadgets to the security agencies in the state, however implored the governor to create more office structures for the NSCDC across all the 26 local governments in the state.