By Ahmed ‘Lateef
The Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Engr Yakubu Danladi Salihu, has vowed that no efforts would be spared until criminal elements are totally and finally crushed.
He added that the state government would not rest on its oars in ensuring restoration of lasting peace in the state.
Salihu said this on Monday when he led the state government’s delegation to villages that came under banditry attacks of criminal elements in the Edu Local Government Area of the state.
The Speaker-led delegation also paid sympathy visits to the palaces of Etsu Tsaragi, Alhaji Abdullah Kpotwa Aliyu; and the Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Muhammad Kawu Kudu.
He urged the people of local communities to be vigilant and help security agencies with information that could be used to track the men of the underworld.
In a statement, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Sheu Abdulkadir Yusuf, quoted his principal as reassuring the people of the Edu local government area and other parts of the state of the government’s commitment to strengthening the security of lives and property of the citizenry.
“On behalf of the Kwara State government, we are here to express our deepest and sincere condolences over unfortunate attacks; our thoughts and prayers are with the victims.
“As a government, we want to reassure you of our commitment to continue to improve the security of the lives and property of our people here in Edu and all parts of Kwara; no efforts would be spared until criminal elements are totally and finally crushed and lasting peace is restored.
“His Excellency has continued to show leadership in the wake of these attacks. The governor briefed key stakeholders on the deployment of army and forest guards to comb everywhere and flush out the criminal elements perpetrating these barbaric acts.
“All hands must therefore be on deck; we should all be vigilant and play our part by reporting credible information and suspicious movements we notice around us to the security agents,” the speaker said.
In his remarks, the Emir of Lafiagi, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Muhammad Kawu Kudu, appealed to the state government for an increase in the number of forest guards and support for farmers whose farmlands were destroyed during the incident.
He appreciated Governor AbdulRazaq for standing with them at this difficult time and also acknowledged the effort to eradicate the banditry.
The speaker, while responding, assured the Emir that the Governor would consider their requests, as he is committed to the security of lives and property and the economic prosperity of the people.
On the entourage of the speaker were member representing Edu Constituency, Hon. Gideon Saba Yisa; his counterpart in Patigi Constituency, Hon. Mohammed Musa Kareem, Hon. Saidu Baba of Bani/Adena/Gweria Constituency; Chairman of Edu local government area, Mr Abdullahi Bello; and his counterpart in Patigi local government area, Hon. Adam Rufai.
The rest included State Commissioner for Water Resources, Usman Yunusa, Special Adviser to the Governor on Social Investment, Saddiq Buhari; Alhaji Adamu Attahiru Manko, Dr Baba Jiya Kolo; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Small Holder Farmers, Mr Suleiman Abdullahi Belle; and Development Officer for Edu local government area, Mohammed Haruna Likpata among others.
Other places visited included Kpandaragi, Bokungi and Guye Dadi villages, where the criminal elements unleashed attacks on the innocent citizens and delivered government condolences to the victims.
