Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, says the state government may relocate or clear three communities along the Kaduna-Abuja highway because of the activities of villagers working with bandits as informants in the areas.
Communities that may be affected include Rijana, Kateri and Akilibu villages, all located along the major highway linking the state and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
El-Rufai alleged that most of the high profile kidnappings and abductions happen around these three dangerous spots.
The governor said there had been reports that some informants residing in those communities had been collaborating with bandits.
El-Rufai stated this during the presentation of first quarter security report for 2022 by the State Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan.
The governor said the concerns regarding these communities would be deliberated upon by security agencies and members of his cabinet.
He said, “We will either relocate or clear these three settlements along that road. We will discuss this in our cabinet meeting by looking at all the options, including clearing these three settlements. This is because there are informants playing vital role in most of the crimes committed along that road.”
He also warned that he would not hesitate to demolish any patent store selling illicit drugs in the state, saying bandits and terrorists use these illicit drugs before attacking innocent citizens.
He lamented the deteriorating security situation in the North West, saying it had become far worse than the situation in the North East as ISWAP and Boko Haram fighters have relocated to part of the state.
The governor stated plans by his administration to recruit additional 1000 vigilantes to beef up the strength of 1000 already recruited and trained by the state police command in 2021.
The Commissioner in his remarks disclosed that 360 people were killed from January to March 2022 across the state, including 305 males, 45 females and 11 minors.
Aruwan added that 1,389 residents, including 350 males, 420 females and 79 minors were kidnapped while 3251 cattle were rustled within the period under review.
He also said 41 bandits were killed by security agencies in different operations carried out while over 60 others were also neutralized through air strikes.