Terrorists fleeing form Zamfara, Niger, Kebbi and Kaduna states are re-grouping in Nasarawa State, Governor Abdullahi Sule has raised the alarm.
Speaking during an emergency security meeting at the Government House in Lafia, the state capital, the governor said the parley was conveyed to strategise on how best to respond to the challenges.
The meeting was summoned to take proactive measures, considering the security situation in the country and particularly within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) where over 600 inmates recently escaped from the Kuje correctional facility.
Sule said the security alert became necessary, following the infiltration of criminals suspected to be bandits fleeing from Niger, Zamfara, Kebbi and Kaduna states.
He said the presence of suspicious elements have been noticed, with many of them fleeing in Rugan Madaki in Karu, Wamba and Toto local government areas.
The security meeting came few days after ordering the closure of schools with a view to reviewing the situation and taking appropriate actions.
According to him, security reports have shown that, following the influx of the suspected bandits, there has been noticeable increase in cases of kidnapping within the last two months.
The Chairman of Lafia Local Government Area, Aminu Muazu Maifata, has banned motorcycles operating in Lafia from 8pm to 6am and tricycles from 10pm to 6am.
The restriction on motorcycles and tricycles was taken at an emergency security council meeting, involving traditional rulers in the council, led by the Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage, and head of security agencies in the local government.
Sule said based on the threat, it has become necessary to convene the meeting, to renew strategies to confront the challenges.
He said: “We believe it’s very necessary to this meeting in view of some of the security challenges we are beginning to see. As usual, the government decided to be proactive and in order to be proactive, we have to also join in calling for this meeting, so that we can share ideas.”
Sule said he ordered the closure of schools, stressing that the decision followed the outcome of an earlier meeting with some security chiefs, in view of movements of suspected bandits.
He explained further that the decision to shut down schools , except those writing their final National Examination Council (NECO) papers, was to forestall any attack, adding that arrangements had been put in place to beef up security where students are still writing examinations.
Commissioner Police (CP) Soyemi Adesina, who attended the security meeting, said security men will, henceforth, increase their patrol and raids, so that all these bad people will be brought to book.
He urged the people to always alert security agencies to any strange and suspicious movement for quick response.