Zamfara State Governor, Dr. Bello Muhammad Matawalle has further consolidated his pursuit for peace as he once again paid a working visit to the President of Niger Republic, His Excellency, Mohammed Bazoum on how to further secure the Country’s borders form terrorists.
Governor Bello Muhammad, along with his Jigawa and Kebbi State counterparts, Governors Mohammed Badaru Abubakar and Atiku Bagudu (who was indisposed but represented) respectively, arrived the Country’s Capital, Niamey, on Friday where they immediately held a preliminary closed door meeting with the officials of that Country.
The team met with President Bazoum the following day where they held another four-hour closed door meeting in which all the issues surrounding cross-border crimes as it affects the two Countries were thoroughly discussed. Governor Bello Mohammed presented to the Nigerien President the document for action on the where his Country is required to further assist in the common fight.
Governor Matawalle assured the President of the total commitment of the Governors bordering Niger Republic of the resolve to join hand with his Country to fight and bring to an end the problem facing our people.
President Mohamed Bozoum assured the Governors that his Country is concerned about what is happening in Nigeria and is aware of the role his Country can and will play in the fight against the transit of illegal weapons Into Nigeria. He said that his Country will continue to support Nigeria in its effort to find a lasting peace especially from the menace of banditry and insurgency.
A special meeting was organised for the visiting Governors with all the Chancellors and Security Chiefs of that Country where the nitty-gritty challenges that need to be addressed were divulged. The meeting which lasted for several hours is expected to enrich the blue-print for the comprehensive fight against the syndicate of arms trafficking.
The Nigerien President then, treated his visitors to some comforting cultural and sporting events which are commonly shared by Nigerian and Nigerien people.
It will be recalled that Governor Bello Mohammed made a similar visit last month where he donated four Hilux vans to the Security operatives of Niger Republic to assist them in the patrol along our borders to fight the incursion of criminal elements into the Country.
