Zamfara state governor, Bello Muhammad Matawalle said that bandits now use camels to smuggle arms into Nigeria after pressures were put on smugglers using vehicles to import arms illegally.
He made the claim before Nigerien Prime Minister, Brigi Refini during talks meant to help stem the tide of crossborder criminal activities in the region.
Refini was received by Governor Matawalle at the Council Chambers in Gusau where the Prime Minister expressed his excitement at the newfound International discourse to end cross-border crimes as it affects the two countries. Zamfara shares an extensive length of border with Niger Republic.
Matawalle in his address said that
“We are aware that due to the pressure on those who smuggle weapons into Nigeria on vehicles, they have now resorted to the use of camels,” Matawalle said.
“I have decided to assist with five vans for surveillance in addition to drones we have already given to the border security of Niger.”
He also extended the request of the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu to the Prime Minister in the area of blocking the transit of weapons into the country.
The meeting was a prelude to the establishment of synergy to fight the criminals in a unified direction.
On his part, Refini said that banditry and terrorism is not peculiar to Nigeria, but his country is facing the same from multiple fronts.
He disclosed that internal strife in the kind of banditry and crimes are not new in the Niger Republic especially from Boko Haram and the insurgency from Mali border down to Burkina Faso.
He said that the efforts of Governor Matawalle were commendable and that such cooperation would bring new ideas and understanding on how to collectively end these crimes.
