Gov. Dauda Lawal of Zamfara on Thursday reiterated his determination to tackle banditry and kidnappings in the state.
Lawal, while condoling with the Commissioner of Police, Zamfara Command, over the killing of police and military personnel ambushed by bandits along Gusau-Funtua road, described the incident as “unfortunate”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the personnel were ambushed by bandits near Kwatarkwashi town in Bungudu Local Government Area while on patrol.
The governor spoke at an event where he donated 16 Toyota Hilux patrol vehicles for the Divisional Police Offices in the state.
Lawal commended the effort of the security operatives in fighting banditry and other heinous crimes in the state.
“My administration gives security top priority, as such, we will not relent on our effort in supporting our gallant troops.
“The operational vehicles we are donating now are directly to the Divisional Police Officers and we have assigned the responsibility of maintenance to Local Government Chairman.
“For the welfare of officers and men, plans are underway to come up with an encouraging package,” he said.
Lawal lamented how the judiciary and the police sectors had been neglected, resulting in corruption and poor administration of justice in the country.
He, however, expressed his resolve to provide necessary support to the police to improve service delivery.
The Governor said his administration would tackle corruption in the state’s judiciary, even as he emphasised the need for training of personnel for effective service to the people.
He also promised to provide funding support to the police command, especially in the area of manpower development.
According him, the police patrol vehicles have been fitted with necessary gadgets for operational purposes.
Speaking during an interview, the Police Commissioner, Mr Shehu Dalijan, said that the seven operatives killed in the incident included four police and three military personnel.
The commissioner said the command had dispatched the operatives following intelligence that suspected bandits had planned to abduct some expatriate workers of SETRACO Nigeria Ltd, handling the Funtua-Gusau road reconstruction project.
“Four of the personnel killed were policemen and three were personnel of the Nigerian Army,” he said.
The commissioner assured the donor that the command would put the vehicles into good use to combat crimes in the state. (NAN)
