From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi

The Kebbi State Government has appealed to the Nigeria Army to help the state to secure about ten villages deserted by the people in Dakowasagu and Bena areas in Dakowasagu Local Government Area in Zuru Emirate of the state due to continuing attacks by bandits.

Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu made the appeal while hosting the GOC, 8 Division, Sokoto, Major-General Godwin Mutkut, who is also Task Force Commander of Operation ‘Hadarin Daji’ for the North West, at his office.

Bagudu, represented by the Deputy Governor, Col Samaila Yombe Dabai (retd), disclosed that the government was having challenges in restoring security to the affected communities and returning the displaced people to their homes.

He mentioned the affected villages to include Kurgiye, Dan Kade, Warkata, Unashi and Akawo, all in Dakowasagu axis and Dansadau, Kabaro, Yaumaitaba, Mokuka, Dankolo in the Bena axis of Zuru Emirate.

We have a request to make to you,” he said. “Dankowasagu and Sakaba are the most targeted areas by bandits. Considering the fact that in the next few weeks, we are going to have general elections. As I am speaking with you, Warkata, Yaumaitaba, Kabaro, Kurgiye, Unashi, and Akawo are empty villages.

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“You can find people in these villages. I was in Kabaro myself to see the situation on the ground by myself. These villages are empty. There is nobody in Mokuka, Dansadau in the Bena area. If they are displaced and not returned before the elections that means we are displaced too.

“What we want now is that the Nigeria Army deploy patrol teams to these areas so that if the people are seeing your patrol vehicles they would be rest assured and return home. This is our greatest headache. We are asking you to help us so that we can gain the confidence of our people,” he said.

He added that the administration is ready to give logistic assistance to the army in the course of providing security to the people of the area.

Earlier, the GOC, 8 Division, Sokoto, Major-General Godwin Mutkut informed the Governor that he was in the state to visit his officers and confer with them.

Mutkut explained that he was also in the state to counsel his officers to be nonpartisan in political matters.

He commended the Deputy Governor for being a good soldier to other junior officers to emulate his track record in the military.