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Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has blamed the military for the influx of bandits in the State.
Tambuwal explained that military operation in Zamfara State is making his State vulnerable to banditry.
The Governor spoke over the weekend while receiving a Presidential delegation, comprising Babagana Monguno, National Security Adviser, Yusuf Bichi, Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Usman Alkali Baba, Inspector-General of Police, and Samuel Adebayo, Chief of Defense Intelligence.
Buhari had sent the delegation over the death of 23 travelers who were burnt to death when some gunmen opened fire on a bus in Sokoto State on Monday.
However, Tambuwal said the Operation Hadarin Daji clearance exercises in Zamfara State was responsible for the influx of bandits in Sokoto.
He said: “Operation Hadarin Daji, the precursor of the escalation of tension and crisis in Sokoto State was carried out without any blocking force around the neighbouring states, particularly Sokoto state.
“Also, the timing of the operation, whereby, unfortunately, our security agents do not have enough equipment to move and curtail and contain those that would pander towards Sokoto state didn’t help the timing as well. So, the timing and the way the operation was carried out left Sokoto very vulnerable.
“It does appear as if those bandits pursued from Zamfara state have relocated to Sokoto State. This is a very serious call for concern.”
