Senator Sulaiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila has commended the Nigerian troops for neutralizing notorious bandit Kachalla Buzu alias Halilu Sububu in Zamfara state, saying “this is a welcome development and the troops deserved commendation.”

Senator Sumaila, who is representing Kano South, said the success will not be unconnected with the recent commitment exhibited by the federal government through the defense ministry and the office of the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu.

He said: “Neutralization of this bandit kingpin is something commendable. I want to use this opportunity to commend Mr. President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the minister of state for defense Bello Matawalle, National Security Adviser Malam Nuhu Ribadu, Zamfara state Police Commissioner Muhammad Shehu Dalijan and above all the Nigerian troops.

“Though the Nigerian troops have succeeded in neutralizing Sububu, we need more efforts on their part to also neutralize the remaining bandits that are terrorizing our people in Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger and Kaduna states. We need all the bandits to either be neutralized or captured alive to end the banditry in the region.

Senator Sumaila appealed to the Minister of state for defense, Bello Muhammad Matawalle and all security agencies to block all possible escape routes to prevent the bandits from escaping due to pressure from the troops in the five states of Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Kaduna and Niger.

“There are several communities that shares borders with the forests linking them with five states affected by banditry. My constituency is one of such places. So, the troops need to pay attention to such places so that the bandits will not have hide places in such areas,” he said.

“I hope Mr. President will continue to support the Nigerian troops to end this menace. Several people were killed in banditry attacks, hundreds of communities sacked in the four affected states and hundreds of residents displaced. We want concerted efforts between the federal government and the four affected states to end banditry in the region.”

Senator Sumaila also urged the people of the affected states to always cooperate with security agencies by availing them with useful information that will help in winning the fight against banditry in the region, noting that “the issue of security concerns everybody, hence the need for the society to contribute their quota in the crusade.”

He, therefore, charged traditional rulers to support the Nigerian security, saying traditional institutions had a greater role to play in the crusade against banditry.