The senator representing Kaduna Central, Lawal Adamu-Usman, has met with President Bola Tinubu on the abduction of Kuriga students and other security challenges in Kaduna State.

The senator told journalists on Sunday in Abuja that the discussions centred on ways to contain the security challenges and offer support for those displaced by the terrorists.

He said the president had directed him to convene a stakeholders’ meeting to map out the best options to enhance community policing and decimate the terrorists in the constituency and across the state.

Mr Adamu-Usman said, “The stakeholders’ meeting will also address the use of modern ways of cracking  criminals, intelligence gathering, and community policing, among others.’’

The lawmaker said the stakeholders would include security agencies, community leaders, traditional institutions, and non-governmental and civil society organisations, among others.

“President Tinubu expressed displeasure over the recurring bandits’ operations in the state, especially the recent kidnapping of hundreds of students in Chikun Local Government Area and other places in the state.

“Tinubu told me that we must find ways to restore security and harmonious coexistence among the people,’’ the senator added.

According to him, the president also mandated the meeting to look into the issue of resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), including their feeding and security.

On the ransom demanded by bandits for the kidnapped Kuriga students, Mr Adamu-Usman said, “The federal government has maintained a position that no kobo will be paid as ransom to kidnappers.”

He called on communities to get involved in intelligence gathering and sharing to support security agencies’ efforts to end the activities of criminal elements in the country.

“ We must collectively work together to end this problem. President Tinubu is serious about ending the insecurity; as such, we should support him,’’ he added.

The senator urged Nigerians to be patient with the current hardship caused by government economic reform policies, saying, “It is a test that we must pass before we succeed.”

He urged Muslims to use the period of Ramadan to pray for peace and prosperity in Nigeria.

Mr Adamu-Usman sympathised with the families of the kidnapped Kuriga students, assuring that security agencies were working to rescue them.

(NAN)