President Muhammadu Buhari has reassured Nigerians that ending banditry remains a key priority of his administration.
In a statement by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari said that he would do whatever it takes to ensure the country’s security system confronts these public enemies with merciless determination.
Buhari was reacting to the recent spike in reported incidents of banditry and kidnappings in some parts of the country.
The president condoled with all those affected by the unfortunate events.
Buhari described as ridiculous allegation of indifferent being levelled against him in some quarters.
He however, called on communities affected by banditry to support and cooperate with the security agencies, particularly the recently launched Operation Puff Adder to battle bandits and kidnappers.
The President said it was regrettable that bandits had informants within some communities, and utterly reprehensible that certain communities had signed protection deals with bandits at the expense of other communities, thereby creating complications and frustrating government’s intervention.