The North-West Good Governance and Security Forum (NW-GSF) has warned the lawmaker representing Sokoto East Senatorial District, Senator Ibrahim Gobir, to quit invading Nigeria with foreign mercenaries.
The group’s reprimand trails Gobir’s claims that he and his people now turn to Nigerien troops for protection against bandits.
“Whenever there is an attack, immediately we inform the commandant of the Nigerien Army at a formation few kilometres away, the officer will come with his troops and help Nigerians,” Senator Gobir had said.
But in reaction through its President, Hon. Imam Galadanchi, the NW-GSF said Gobir may have subconsciously admitted being one of the politicians fuelling the insecurity situation in his state.
The group also denounced insinuations from Senator Gobir that Sokoto has been abandoned, describing it is an “untrue”.
The statement reads in part: “The North- West Good Governance and Security Forum has followed with shock the revelation by the Senator representing Sokoto East in the Senate, Senator Ibrahim Gobir, that he was actively aware that his constituents connive with troops from the Republic of Niger to carry out military operations in Nigeria without the knowledge of the Federal Government. This must not in any way be construed as bridging the gap but should be called what it is, a usurpation of roles and responsibilities of agencies and departments of the Federal Government.
“What the Senator did was an admission of being one of those politicians that set the ground for the security situation in Nigeria to degenerate in pursuit of their own selfish agenda. Rather than leverage his position in the National Assembly to pressure for the needed military presence in his state, he opted to collude with others to illegally bring the forces of another country to invade Nigeria. Senator Gobir must stop invading Nigeria with mercenaries.”
(New Telegraph)