Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara on Thursday condoled with the Nigerian Police and Army over the killing of their officers during an ambush by bandits.
The governor had condoled with the police commissioner in the state, Shehu Dalijan, over the killing of police and military personnel ambushed by bandits along Gusau-Funtua road on Thursday.
Speaking at an event where he donated 16 (Toyota Hilux) patrol vehicles for the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in the state, the governor commended efforts of the security operatives in fighting banditry and other crimes in the state.
Recall that the police and military personnel were ambushed by bandits near Kwatarkwashi town in Bungudu local government while on patrol.
Mr Lawal reiterated his government’s determination to tackle banditry and kidnappings in the state.
“My administration gives security top priority, as such, we will not relent on our effort in supporting our gallant troops.
“The operational vehicles we are donating now are going directly to the Divisional Police Officers and we have assigned the responsibility of maintenance to each Council Chairman.
“And for the welfare of officers and men, plans are underway to come up with an encouraging package,” he said.
The governor lamented how the judiciary and the police had been neglected, resulting in corruption and poor administration of justice in the country.
He, however, expressed his resolve to provide necessary support to the police to improve service delivery.
The governor said his administration would tackle corruption in the state’s judiciary, and emphasised the need for training of personnel for effective service delivery.
He also promised to provide funding support to the police command specifically for manpower development.
According him, the police patrol vehicles have been fitted with necessary gadgets for operational purposes.
Speaking during an interview, the police commissioner said the seven operatives killed in the incident included four police and three military personnel.
“Four of the personnel killed were policemen and three were personnel of the Nigerian Army,” the commissioner said.
He said the command had dispatched the operatives following intelligence that the suspected bandits had planned to abduct some expatriate workers of SETRACO Nigeria Limited, handling the Funtua- Gusau road reconstruction project.
(NAN)
