Poverty, unemployment behind banditry in North-West

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has identified poverty and unemployment as responsible for the security challenges bedeviling the North-West region of the country.

He said that the best way to tackle the challenges was through good governance.

The governor made the observation in Kaduna on Monday while receiving members of the Kaduna State Elders Forum who paid him a congratulatory visit over his victory at the Supreme Court.

He stated that as the Kaduna State government intensified military actions against banditry and kidnapping with the support of the Defence Headquarters, his government was also adopting good governance as the best non-kinetic solution to the security challenges.

Sani lamented the alarming rate of out of school children, stressing that it must be addressed to ensure a secured state and region.

According to the Governor, “the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army and the Chief of Air Staff have assured us of their support to our security efforts.

“They have decided to set up two Forward Operation Bases (FOB) in Kaduna, one in Southern Kaduna, Zangon Kataf to be precise and the other one in Birnin Gwari to serve Birnin Gwari down to Giwa. The FOBs will be set up in the next three weeks.”

He explained that it was one of the most important interventions by the Defence Headquarters.

He said he would be signing the bill for the establishment of the Security Trust Fund, 2024.