Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State has said that security agencies alone cannot end insecurity, adding that prayers are also needed to address rising cases of kidnapping and banditry across the country.
Bello stared this yesterday, at the opening of a two-day symposium held in Minna, the state capital.
Tagged: ‘The Role of Imams in Ensuring Credible and Peaceful Elections As Well As Good Governance,’ it was organised by the Jumaat mosques imams’ forum, in conjunction with Rahama Foundation, and Bago Foundation.
Represented by Ahmed Matane, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), the governor said security agencies alone cannot do everything to tackle insecurity.
“Security agencies alone cannot do it and thus the need for prayers by religious leaders to address the ugly trend,” he said.
He said religious and traditional rulers must be accorded prominence for the fight against insurgency to succeed, just as he commended the efforts of security agencies.
In his remarks, Umar Bago, the governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, said with the roles played by religious and traditional rulers in promoting peaceful co-existence, they should be supported to achieve maximum results.
Also speaking, Sani Musa, the APC senator representing Niger East, appealed to youths to obtain their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), adding that, “it is the only way they can elect credible leaders.”
He further called for prayers by the religious leaders for hitch-free elections in 2023.
Umar Abdullahi, Secretary of the Imams’ Forum in Niger State, called on religious leaders to be actively involved in politics to “sanitise” the system.
