By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
President Bola Tinubu on Monday described banditry and terrorism as alien to Nigeria’s culture and a major threat to economic growth, pledging to strengthen security forces to defeat the menace.
Tinubu spoke at the opening of the two-day National Economic Council (NEC), conference at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, where he said insecurity had kept Nigerians “sleepless” and vowed that his administration would crush bandits and terrorists.
“To further find means to strengthen our security forces to defeat terrorism and combat banditry…that, I promise you, is what has kept all of us sleepless at night, but I assure you that we will win with determination and resilience,” he said.
The President said banditry and terrorism were unacceptable and had become an economic hindrance requiring urgent action.
His remarks come amid renewed attacks in parts of the country. On February 3, at least 162 people were reportedly killed in Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, with dozens abducted and several others hospitalised.
In Katsina State, at least 20 people were killed in Doma communities of Faskari Local Government Area after a local peace arrangement collapsed.
Tinubu also linked insecurity to ongoing livestock reforms, urging the NEC conference to adopt resolutions on ranching and livestock investment to address farmer-herder conflicts.
“I’m confident that the resolution of this conference will include dairy farming, livestock investment, ranches, and diversification of our agricultural produce,” he said.
The NEC conference, themed “Delivering Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development: The Renewed Hope National Development Plan,” is being presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima and is expected to focus on fiscal coordination, investment mobilisation and national development priorities.
