President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday appealed to Nigerians to be patient with his administration over the protracted killings ravaging different parts of the country, saying his security team was racking its brain on how to end the violence.
The president made the appeal in reaction to the killing of over 32 people in Gandi, Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State by bandits on Monday.
A grieving Governor Aminu Tambuwal in a statement Wednesday called for the overhauling of the country’s security architecture, saying it had become overwhelmed by the massive violence being perpetrated by non-state actors.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu had in a statement Wednesday night, said Buhari warned that his administration would not allow any group of barbarians and criminals hold the country hostage and destroy life without consequences.
“I wish to assure all Nigerians that their security is receiving the greatest attention from this administration and there is no compromise in this commitment. I appeal for your patience while my security teams crack their brains to put an end to this horrendous violence,” he quoted the president as saying.
The statement added that Buhari condemned the killing of several people, including a district head, in and around the village of Gandi by bandits, threatening that the wanton violence against innocent people won’t be tolerated by his government.
“We are working round the clock to identify the people sponsoring these heartless attacks,” the president reportedly said, adding: “It is curious why any group of mass murderers would be targeting and killing innocent people for no just reason.”
He added: “Make no mistake about it, my administration remains committed to security as one of its core objectives, and any attempt to test our will by any group of anarchists and troublemakers will be met with equal force.”
According to the statement, Buhari assured Nigerians that, “Identifying and defeating these callous killers is receiving priority from this administration, and we shall spare no effort in tracing the root of this evil, especially their sources of funding and arms”.
It also said Buhari promised that although the hit and run gangs of mass murderers were using unconventional tactics, they would eventually be defeated, adding that the president extended his condolences to the government, families of the victims and the people of Sokoto State at large over what he called “these incredible losses of lives at the hands of these enemies of humanity”.
“He assured that the federal government will give all possible assistance to the state in dealing with the tragic incident,” the statement added.
