Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday disagreed on the security situation in the country.
According to Punch report, While the PDP governors warned that the security situation in the country was deteriorating, the APC said the federal government was handling the situation, stressing that the Bola Tinubu administration would ensure peace in Nigeria.
Late Monday night, bandits killed four policemen in Zamfara State and kidnapped a Catholic priest and three others in Ebonyi State.
These occurred on a day when tensions in the southeast were further heightened by the declaration by Simon Ekpa, leader of the indigenous IPOB faction in Biafra, to stay home for two weeks, from July 31 to August 14.
While Ekpa’s declaration was a direct response to the decision of the governor, legislators, and Ohanaeze Ndigbo to meet with President Bola Tinubu over the security situation in the southeast, Enugu residents lamented yesterday that the week-long stay-at-home order declared by Ekpa last week had just ended and had not yet recovered PDP Governor.
PDP State Governor on Security Situation
PDP governors from a meeting in Abuja yesterday noted that the situation was particularly dire in Plateau and Zamfara states, where a large number of Nigerians have been killed and their properties destroyed.
Reading from a communiqué issued at the end of the five-hour meeting, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, said he and his colleagues were calling on the federal government and security agencies to rise to the occasion.
He said: “The meeting referred to the deteriorating security situation in the country and the reckless destruction of lives and property, especially in Plateau and Zamfara states.
As a result, it recommended that the federal government and the security agencies rise to the occasion and take control of the situation.
The meeting resolved to work together and unite the forum. The forum aims to provide a platform for the mutual assessment of issues, policies, programs, and achievements (legacy projects) of member governors of the PDP states.
The Conference advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and the federal government to remain neutral in the conduct of off-season elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo states.
The conference noted the deteriorating security situation in the country, especially the reckless destruction of lives and property in Plateau, Zamfara, and other states.
In the interim, the Forum will cooperate with the Federal Government on issues concerning the welfare of Nigerians and good governance, while endeavoring to maintain the Forum’s independence and autonomy by offering constructive criticism when necessary.”
In response to a reporter’s question about the absence of Rivers State Governor Simi Hubala, Governor Mohammed said that the governor had apologized for his absence, adding that the fact that 12 of the party’s 13 governors attended the meeting was a sign of unity of the forum.
Tinubu Administration Ensures Peace-APC Source
However, an All Progressives Congress (APC) director, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Tinubu administration will do its best to ensure peace throughout the country.
The source said: “From what you have told us, the PDP governors have pointed out the security situation in Plateau and Zamfara states in particular and called on the federal government and security agencies to help nip it in the bud.
There is nothing strange in making such a call. Security is not a partisan issue, and I think all governors agree with this assertion.
That is why the PDP called for the support of the federal government even though it controls both Plateau and Zamfara states. The Tinubu administration will do its best to ensure peace throughout the country.”
Four Policemen Killed in Zamfara State Bandit Attack
In Zamfara State, the police command confirmed that four policemen were killed Monday night in an attack by armed bandits in Bungudu Local Government Area of the state.
Yazid Abubakar, spokesman for the police command, said the police checkpoint along the Gusau-Bungudu road was attacked shortly after midnight, killing four policemen.
‘We went there this morning (yesterday) and confirmed that four of our men were killed during the attack. They were on patrol setting up a checkpoint before moving to another location, but the bandits engaged them unnoticed.
It will be recalled that the officers had set up a checkpoint along Bungudu Gusau Street when the armed bandits ambushed them and opened fire.
Another resident, Ibrahim Bungudu, said that four policemen were killed in the attack.
He also said that rampaging bandits shot and killed one person in Tagelo village, Hulhuli district, Bungudu Local Government Area.
Bungudu added that several cows belonging to residents of Tagelo village were also attacked by the bandits.
He said: “The bandits ambushed police along the Gusau-Bungudu road near Nabatule company and killed four people. They also snatched several cattle in Tagelo village, Hluhuri district, and one person in the village received a bullet in the hand,” he said.
Another resident, Usman Bungudu, also confirmed the attack, saying the bandits attacked police officers at a checkpoint around midnight, killing four people.
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