Attacks: Plateau, Kaduna mull Joint Security Committee

The Kaduna State Governor, Mr. Nasir el-Rufai, has recommended collaboration between Kaduna and Plateau States in setting up a joint security committee that would work towards ending bandits’ attacks and other security challenges against the two states, especially at the border communities.

El-rufai made the recommendation in Jos while speaking with journalists after he called on his Plateau State counterpart, Mr. Simon Lalong.

He was received by the Plateau State Deputy Governor, Professor Sonni Tyoden, on behalf of Lalong.

He said: “The reason I am here in Plateau State today is to commiserate with the state over recent violence, and also to discuss common strategies on how to manage our borders and to set up a joint committee for the two states to be working on daily basis to end the incessant attacks on border communities.”

He said that putting the committee together would help in finding lasting solutions to the reoccurrence of tragic and unfortunate incidents.

The governor also added that he has been working with Lalong since they were elected in 2015 when they realised that the two states played host to many people across Nigeria, and that with the common boundary whatever happens to one have some indirect effect on the other.

He said: “Whatever happened in Plateau State has an indirect impact on Kaduna States, because we share border, we have Irigwe people in Kaduna just as they are in Plateau state, so also the Fulanis.”

el-Rufai added that adherence to the rule of law was critical to the survival and stability of every society, noting that Kaduna and Plateau States are not only neighbours but are constantly faced with similar violent experiences.

He assured that he will work collaboratively with his Plateau state counterpart by sharing ideas that will help tackle the menace of insecurity in both states. (THISDAY: Text, excluding headline)