Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has in appreciation rewarded vigilante groups and volunteer security operatives at Lere District of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of the state that rescued twenty eight kidnapped victims, killed 68 bandits.
Our correspondent who covered the occasion reports that the group during a special operation in partnership with Police and other security apparatus in the state, succeeded in killing sixty eight suspected criminals and recovered eight illegal guns and other dangerous weapons.
As a result of this development, Governor Bala Mohammed donated the sum of ten million Naira with thirty brand new motorcycles to the security volunteers to enhance their operations towards making communities around the area safe and secured.
The governor while appreciating the combined efforts of the security operatives during a visit to Lere recently, where the success stories were recorded, said his government would continue to encourage communities to adopt self-defence strategy in view of incessant attacks especially in communities neighbouring with other states.
He revealed that plans are underway by his administration to recruit twenty thousand youth that would support conventional security agencies in the maintenance of peace across the state.
While calling on the vigilante groups to respect the rule of engagement by avoiding extra judicial killings, Bala Mohammed ordered community leaders to monitor activities of strangers in their domain.
The State Commissioner of Police, Awwal Muhammad, earlier in his remarks commended the governor for the efforts put in place to fight criminals in the state and assured that the police and other security agencies would continue to guide the volunteer security operatives on the best security strategy.
He also assured that the remaining kidnapped victims will be rescued unhurt and the bandits will be cleared to make the environment free for people to enjoy their lives.
The District Head of Lere, Alh. Jamilu Bawa, informed Governor Bala Mohammed that the success recorded in the area within the period was as a result of joint operations by all the security agencies operating in the state under watchful eyes of the State Commissioner of Police.
While commending the governor for the kind gestures accorded to the vigilantes in the area, he assured that the gesture will be reciprocated hence,the vigilantes in the area are battle ready to flush out the bandits completely in the area.
