Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state on Thursday visited Sabon Birni town to condole the victims of the dastardly attacks by bandits that claimed 23 lives in a bus carrying 32 people on Monday.
Accompanied by his Deputy, Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’Iya, the Speaker of Sokoto state House of Assembly (SOHA), Rt. Hon. Aminu Muhammad Achida, security chiefs in the state and some Commissioners, the Governor said: “we’re here to condole you all.”
“May Allah grant those departed eternal bliss and may He grant those who are in the hospital speedy recovery,” the Governor prayed, expressing hope that the survivors but wounded victims of the crisis will overcome the trauma of the ambush.
He emphasized that: “it is very disturbing that these kind of things are happening here and across the nation. As those entrusted with the leadership of the people in this state, we are very worried and touched each time such incident happens.
“Nonetheless, we will not rest on our oars in doing the best we can to roll back this unfortunate problem.
“We have been doing our best to support the security operatives in the state. We have donated over 500 vehicles to all the security operatives in the state and trained about 1000 certified vigilante members,” the Governor explained, adding that 500 motorcycles have also been donated to vigilante groups to ease their operations under the supervision of the security outfits.
Providing succor to the families of the victims, Governor Tambuwal announced a personal donation of N250,000 to each of them, just as he pledged the state government’s willingness to pick the bills of those hospitalized.
He further explained that his administration is poised to strengthen the operations of certified vigilante groups contrary to statements credited to a serving Senator that the state government has proscribed vigilante groups.
“What we voided were self-styled vigilante groups, while we will from the beginning of December start paying verified vigilante members N20,000 monthly stipend to encourage them,” Tambuwal said, urging all and sundry to jettison politics in the move towards resolving this crisis.
Welcoming the Governor and his entourage, the Chairman of Sabon Birni local Government Area, Hon. Umaru Danyaro said: “we’re grateful to you for the ninth condolence visit to this area since banditry and kidnapping escalated about a year ago.
“The security operatives here have been cooperating with the local authorities. However, what concerns security is not the state Governor’s responsibility but that of the Federal Government.
“Governor Tambuwal has been doing his best. People should stop blaming the incumbent administration for the woes befalling the people. Instead, we should all focus on repenting our sins individually and collectively. We should all reform our ways, the Chairman admonished.