Six northern governors of the states surrounding the dreaded Kamuku Forest yesterday, rose from their meeting with security chiefs in Kaduna State with the declaration that the lingering insecurity in their areas would soon end.
The governors also tasked the security chiefs to wipe out deadly criminals taking refuge in the forest.
The six governors of Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Zamfara, Kebbi and Sokoto, were meeting for the third time this year on how to totally root out cattle rustlers and other criminal elements in the forest area.
Recall that in late July 2015, a joint security task force operating in the forest in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killed notorious criminals and recovered over 1,000 stolen herds of cattle.
Addressing journalists after its closed door meeting in Kaduna, Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State, who chaired the meeting, after reviewing the efforts of security agencies in the area, said it was imperative to allow them to continue with operation in order to stamp out criminals from the forest.
“We have asked the joint taskforce, comprising the Nigerian Army, Air Force, police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, to continue with their operation till further notice”, Masari said.
The governors tasked the Joint Task Force to redouble efforts at safeguarding lives and property, while assuring people of the states that “the lingering insecurity in the areas will soon come to an end”.
Earlier in his brief remark, the host governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, represented by his deputy, Barnabas Bala Bantex, said Kaduna is working hard to ensure the Kamuku forest is free of criminals.
He also said the state government will support every decision taken by the security agencies involved in sanitizing the forest.
