President Muhammadu Buahri, on Thursday, said the security situation in the North-West had become very devastating and overwhelming.
Buhari in an interview on Arise TV on Thursday morning on the state of the nation, said he was overwhelmed with insecurity reports from the North-West inspite of the continued success of military efforts in the region.
The President said, “I am overwhelmed with the security situation in the north west. These are the same people killing each other and stealing each other’s cattle.
“It is very devastating but we are going to address it. We are not going to make too much publicity on this but we are recording successes.
“We have mobilised the police and the army to bring normalcy no matter what it takes. That is we have picked the people who have been in the field to lead the army.”
He added that his administration would treat bandits in the “language they understand.”
He further said, “Governors from the region came to me and complained. But the issue is that you cannot be elected and sit back waiting for the Federal Government to do everything.
“You have to go round, mobilise people who know the nooks and crannies as it was done in the past. When the security operatives come in, the task will be easier.”
Buhari also said if there was enough intelligence among the stakeholders in the affected states with regular meetings on the fate of the affected states, the situation won’t have become worse.
Bandits have continued to terrorize the states of Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto Kaduna in the North-West.
The insecurity has spread to states like Niger and Benue in the North-Central.
Hundreds of people have been killed and property worth millions of naira destroyed.
In states like Niger, Zamfara and Kaduna, bandits abduct in hundreds and demand ransom. Schools and pupils are also not spared.
Victims are often killed if their families fail to raise the ransom demanded.