‘This insane and persistent violence against innocent people must stop’ – Buhari warns bandits

President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the spate of killings rocking the Northern part of the country.

Buhari particularly lamented the latest killing of tens of people by bandits in Zamfara State during the week.

No fewer than 50 people were gruesomely murdered in villages across the state in separate but well-coordinated attacks.

This is despite the ongoing peace talks and other policies of pacification embraced by Governor Bello Matawalle of the state.

The attacks have also continued unabated despite the “no fly zone” declaration by the Federal Government and the deployment of troops to the state.

But reacting to ugly development in Zamfara yesterday, Buhari warned that “such wanton disregard for life will be brought to an end sooner than later.”

He said that “this insane and persistent violence against innocent people must stop”.

The President said the criminals behind the dastardly acts across the state would be tragically mistaken to think the government lacks the capacity to deal decisively with them.

Buhari said “these criminals should stop pushing their luck too far by believing that the government lacks the capacity to crush them.”

The President directed the military, security and intelligence agencies to take immediate steps to close all existing gaps in their operations being exploited by criminals to wreak havoc.

He expressed hope the Special Operation launched by the military at 3:00am on Thursday from Maru Local Government area will prove decisive in ridding the state of the “frequent and horrifying “bandit activities.

“The violence against poor villagers who are struggling with poverty and other severe economic challenges is not going to be tolerated by this administration,” the President warned.

Buhari has called on the security forces to “redouble their efforts in bringing an end to this mindless violence against innocent people.”

“Let’s not give these criminals any opportunity to succeed by taking the war to their own camps and stop them in their tracks before they even have the time to respond under our massive fire power.”

Buhari reassured the people of Zamfara State that, “despite the latest set back in our efforts to protect our citizens, there will be no compromise in our determination to defeat these enemies of humanity.”

This is not the first time the President would talk tough concerning operations of bandits in Zamfara and other Northern states.

In the wake of spate of mass abductions of students that rocked the North about two months ago, Buhari threatened to deal decisively with criminals in the region; he even gave a shoot-on-sight order.

But despite all these efforts kidnappings, killings and other criminality have continued unabated in the region.