Niger state governor, Abubakar Sani-Bello has confirmed that two soldiers died during the recent attack on Kagara Emir’s palace in Rafi local government of the state.
The governor confirmed this on Friday when he visited 12 of the injured soldiers receiving treatment at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) Specialist Hospital, Minna.
Speaking to journalists, the Governor said the injured soldiers were responding to treatment and will be on their feet in no distant time.
Sani-Bello expressed sadness over the situation, disclosing that some of the injured soldiers were taken to Kaduna for medical attention.
According to him, though no exact casualty figure of the bandits had been confirmed, they suffered heavy casualty.
The governor maintained that the bandits have alliance with terrorists considering their increasing number and the way they plan and carry out their attacks.
He said the situation called for a review, adding that aside the kinetic efforts being made, a support system will be evolved for those deprived of their livelihood through banditry or cattle rustling.
He enjoined the citizens to be security conscious and be mindful of their environment as well as report suspicious activities around.
Sani-Bello also raised concern over some rural communities, who for fear of attack, harbour bandits, warning that it will not last for long.
“Very soon we will tag those communities as same elements as bandits. If you are harbouring any bandits and you know, you are one even if you don’t carry gun because you are risking the lives of our security agents.
“We have lost quite a few of them since it started and we don’t intend to lose more. What we are calling for is a safe environment and for every one to support the ongoing operation by the security agents”, he said.
The governor also visited others, including a victim of gas explosion from Kagara at the surgical ward of the hospital, who has been on admission for over 2 months.
Meanwhile, the governor has expressed dismay over the condition of the hospital, which he said gulped huge amount to renovate few years back.
He said the issue will be investigated as he believes something is fundamentally wrong and someone is not doing his job.
“I am extremely angry because I remember when we came we spent a lot of money to renovate the entire hospital and in less than four years, for this hospital to be like this, then something is fundamentally wrong so am not happy and am angry, very angry”, he said.
The governor also ordered for immediate repair of the dialysis machines in the hospital and directed the Commissioner for Finance, to release funds immediately to that effect.
