Nigeria Experiencing Terrorism, Not banditry, Says Fayemi

Posted by Nwa Diokpa African News, Featured, Latest Headlines, News, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Tuesday, February 23rd, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) says that Nigeria is experiencing terroism and not banditry or kidnapping.

The chairman of NGF and Ekiti governor, Kayode Fayemi, disclosed this on Tuesday when some governors paid a solidarity visit to the governor of Niger State, Abubakar Bello concerning the abduction of several students, members of staff of Government Science College (GSC) Kagara.

His words: “At the level of the governors’ forum, we met last week and we came out with some specific ideas we have shared with the federal authority but for us, our visit is in commiseration, solidarity and in identifying with you, the government, and the good people of Niger state,” Fayemi said.

“We want to reassure you that even this difficult time shall pass but we must put our heads together, put all our efforts together, demonstrate resilience, reassure our people not to give up hope because ultimately we can only defeat terrorism collectively, not in isolation.

“What we are witnessing is terrorism, there is no other name for it. We may call it banditry, kidnaping, these are the remnants of the actors in the north-east that have found themselves in other parts of the country. Whether they are known as ISWAP, Shekau faction, they are remnants of what we are still dealing with in that part of Nigeria.

“That is why we must not treat the north-east in isolation of this problem. We are all victims as long as any section of our country is ravaged by this problem.

“On behalf of all your brother governors, I want to assure our people in Niger state that we are all for Niger state. We shall not rest until we resolve the challenges we have here as we have in other states.”

“The ultimate agenda is to destroy the Federal Republic of Nigeria, let’s not make any mistake about it. It’s either we succumb to that agenda or fight it with every fibre in our being,” he said.

Responding, the Niger governor appreciated his counterparts and thanked them for the visit which he described as a “morale booster”.