•Caution your followers against violence, Sanusi urges political leaders

An attack that would have marred the Sallah celebration in Kano State was foiled, yesterday, with the arrest of a top-ranking Boko Haram suspects.

The state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who made the disclosure, said the suspects have been moved to Abuja.

According to him, the arrest was a product of collaborative efforts between residents and security agents on information sharing.

“The arrested insurgents have been taken to Abuja for further investigation. Possibly, these insurgents were from Sambisa and their plan was to launch another coordinated attack on Kano during Sallah,” he said.

The governor said the arrests followed a series of security tips-off. “The security agencies have received reports of suspicious movements of strange faces in the state. Having got the information, the security personnel intensified intelligence gathering and they did not relent in their efforts until they foiled the evil mission and arrested the insurgents.”

The insurgents were reportedly arrested at various locations within the state metropolis.

“The Boko Haram members were arrested with many cell phones and weapons with the intention of attacking residents but God thwarted their efforts”.

Speaking further, Ganduje revealed that “these success would not have been possible also without the support the state government is according security agents.”

He said recently the state government repaired and bought new vehicles worth N300 million for the police and other security agencies like the Nigerian Army, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Hisba Board and the Vigilante Group.

The governor noted that with the security challenges facing Falgore forest area in terms of Cattle rustling and kidnapping, especially resident in Tudun Wada, Doguwa and Sumaila, the Federal Government has converted the forest to shooting range for the Nigerian Army.

He also disclosed that  the state government had completed two hospitals with 500 beds.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari had recorded impressive success in the fight against insurgency and other security challenges in the country.

He restated his commitment to the protection of  lives and property of residents in the state.

At least 20,000 people have been killed by the radical Islamist Boko Haram group since 2009 and more than 2.6 million people either displaced or  rendered homeless. More than five million people are starving as the fighting has devastated farmland, leaving farmers unable to sow or cultivate crops for several years.

The insurgents which sprang up in Borno in the  North-East region, are fighting to overthrow the government and establish an Islamic state.

Meanwhile, Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi, has called on political leaders to caution their followers against acts of  violence.

He made the call, yesterday, during the traditional Hawan Nasarawa at the Government House, Kano.

“I am calling on political leaders to caution their followers against political violence and thuggery,” he said.

He also urged government to create employment for youths in the country in order to reduce the economic hardship being faced in the country.

“If the youths are employed or empowered, the level of hardship faced by many families will reduce,” he said.

The monarch also called on the Federal Government to revive agriculture in order to attain self-sufficiency in food production.

He prayed for  peace, tranquility and unity in the country and the safe return of Nigerian pilgrims from the Holy land.