Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno has said religious and traditional institutions must work together to find lasting solutions to end banditry in the North-East.

Mr Zulum, who spoke in Borno, said he was not encouraging residents to take up arms to defend themselves.

“I didn’t say people should take up arms but communities, religious leaders, traditional institutions and all critical stakeholders must work together to find lasting solution of insecurity in the northwest,” Mr Zulum said.

He spoke while presenting a cheque of N20 million donation made by governors from the region to victims of banditry in Anka and Bukkuyum local government areas of Zamfara.

While presenting the cheque to Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara, in Government House Gusau, Mr Zulum expressed sadness over the incident and called for consistent prayers to end the menace.

“On behalf of North-East progressive governors’ forum, we commiserate with Zamfara state government and people affected with bandits attack,” added Mr Zulum.

He described the incident that led to the killing of 58 persons in eight communities of Anka and Bukuyum local government areas as devastating.

The Borno governor noted with concern the alarming rate of banditry and kidnapping in the region and called for collaboration between the government and the people to end the situation.

He explained that Borno and Zamfara were faced with similar insecurity situations.

Receiving the cheque, Mr Matawalle thanked the governors’ forum for the support and promised to work harder to end the insecurity situation in the state.

Mr Matawalle also stated that with different measures being taken by his government, insecurity in the state would soon be history.

(NAN)