Former lawmaker, Shehu Sani says the sentiment that most bandits and kidnappers in the North are footsoldiers for their masters in the cities is true.
While lamented that the ruling government is not doing anything about the insecurity challenges the country is facing especially in the North, Shehu expressed the belief that the newly appointed Sevice Chiefs will hit the ground running.
Speaking as a guest on Arise TV on Saturday morning, Sani, who was a member of the 8th Assembly said kidnappers have raked in millions from their victims, forcing many to seel their properties in the process of raising ransom.
Speaking on the sentiment that the bandits and kidnappers are foot soldiers while the key actors live large in the cities, Sani said he shared the sentiment because the ones committing crimes in the North can’t bost of possession worth 20,000.
“I have never seen any hotel, any estate, any property, car even up to a million Naira belonging to these kidnappers. So, it is possible to relate that these kidnappers are actually front for some people behind the scene.
“From Kaduna to Abuja, kidnappings have been taking place, and mostly these bandits collect hundreds of millions of Naira every day. But each time there is an arrest, you don’t see them even show that are the set of people that show worth of 40,000 Naira with them. It is so bad. Someone is actually acting behind the scene, so I believe in that.”
On the visit of the traditional rulers, Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar to the Aso Rock, he said it was important because they need to let him know the situation of insecurity in the country.
“Politicians from that part of the country are fully political and may not be able to tell truth to power or being very careful. Is not that they don’t know that is happening.
“So, what the politicians are unable to say, the traditional rulers, who have no mandate other than their heritage; they shouldn’t be able, to tell the truth to the president.
While noting that one of the monarchs has written a letter to the president in that regard, Sani said no politician has the mind to do such because he won’t want to be victimised or want his political ambition affected.
