Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, the ace actress, says actors who shy away from kissing roles are not genuine talents.

In an interview with TVC, the 82-year-old actress said acting is about truly believing in the character, not just pretending.

She said personal preferences should never interfere when portraying a role.

The veteran challenged those who resist on-screen kisses.

She stated that genuine actors immerse themselves in roles without “moralising”.

“Acting is believing, we are projecting life,” said Ajai-Lycett.

“There is a difference between play-acting and wanting to show how other people feel. And that is what I do.

“I read for instance in Nigerian papers where people who marry an actor who has been kissed.

“And somebody says, ‘All my years in acting I have never been kissed, I do not allow anybody to kiss me.’

“Well, you are not an actor. You do not bring your personal preferences into play.

“You can do that when you are play-acting, but when you are acting, you are that person.

“So to start moralising about acting means you are not an actor, you are play-acting.”

In 1966, Ajai-Lycett made her acting debut in Wole Soyinka’s ‘The Lion and the Jewel’ at the Royal Court Theatre in London.

She returned to Nigeria in 1971 and has since featured in several notable Nollywood films.

The movie star has also received several awards and honours for her contributions to Nollywood.

[TheCable]

About a week to Christmas Day, shoppers have condemned the worsening naira scarcity, with many of them expressing frustration over their inability to make vital purchases for the Yuletide celebration.

Findings by The PUNCH on Sunday revealed that banks were still rationing cash over-the-counter, while several Automated Teller Machines visited did not dispense cash.

Our correspondents who visited ATM galleries in Lagos, Abuja, Osogbo, Makurdi, Sokoto, Edo, and Gusau, among others, observed that many of the machines had run out of cash.

On Friday, many bank customers could not get access to cash OTC in many baking halls across the country.

This was despite assurances from the banking regulator, the Central Bank of Nigeria, that more cash had been released for economic activities.

Meanwhile, The PUNCH checks over the weekend showed that many poultry sellers and local stores were insisting on cash as a means of payment for their goods.

A roadside trader in Abule Egba, Lagos, who simply identified herself as Mama Sule, told one of our correspondents that “many customers who want to buy onions are saying they don’t have cash. I don’t have a bank account, so I can’t accept transfers; sadly, It is affecting my business.”

Also, another trader in Olowoira, Lagos, said, “I am still insisting on cash for payment because I have experienced failed transactions before. If you have cash, I will sell to you.”

A Christmas shopper, Remi Arowolo, said, “I was traveling from Abeokuta to Lagos, I saw cheap tomatoes on the road and when I stopped to buy, they said they could not accept transfer from me; they insisted on cash. I wanted to buy them in large quantities ahead of Christmas, but I could not buy them.”

Also, a Point of Sale operator in the Mokola area of Ibadan, Oyo State, who simply identified himself as James, said, “I cannot get enough cash for my business; my business is suffering. I am not making a profit and Christmas is near, no money to spend this Christmas. It is sad.”

However, some sources in the bank who would not want to be named, said the banks could only give out cash if they had.

A top bank official of one of the commercial banks said, “We are still rationing cash to customers, but if the cash supply increases, we will give out. We don’t have enough even for our ATMs. Maybe if the CBN released more cash, we should have more.”

When our correspondent visited some ATMs in Abuja on Sunday, none of them was dispensing cash to customers.

The ATM galleries belonging to GTBank, Zenith Bank, Stanbic IBTC and UBA located along Airport Road did not dispense over the weekend, although security officers at the facilities said the cash had been withdrawn by some customers.

In the Ojodu area of Lagos, one of our correspondents visited ATMs belonging to First Bank, EcoBank, Union Bank, Access Bank, Zenith Bank and GTCO, on Ogunnusi Road; none of the ATMs had cash on Sunday.

Some bank customers, who were around the ATMs, expressed frustrations for their inability to get cash.

When our correspondent visited a branch of Sterling Bank along Ikotun-Idimu Road on Sunday afternoon, customers were seen stranded as the bank’s ATM did not dispense cash.

One of the customers who did not want her name mentioned, said, “We have been here for a long time now, and the ATM didn’t dispense. I am not the only one here, we are more than five. I wanted to collect some cash to enable me to transport myself to my house in Ayobo, but this is not dispensing. I don’t know what happened.”

Another customer who simply identified himself as Harry, said “This is frustrating, coming back from church, I decided to stop here and get some money to buy some items for the week but the ATM is not dispensing.  I had visited some other banks, but the ATMs were not dispensing cash.

Also when The PUNCH team visited a Zenith Bank branch on the same stretch, it was observed that though there was little or no queue at the bank, the ATM was not dispensing.

Also, when one of our correspondents visited the Guaranty Trust Bank at Omole Phase 2, Olowora, Lagos, it was discovered that none of the five ATMs at the GTBank branch was dispensing cash.

The security officer who resumed on Sunday afternoon said he met the ATMs empty.

However, customers were able to make e-payment transfers with the machines. Some of our correspondents observed how two customers used the facility for e-transfers.

Mrs Esther Akinbo, a businesswoman in the Ojodu area of Lagos told The PUNCH that there was severe scarcity of cash over the weekend, a situation that hampered her Christmas shopping.

As a result, she said she could not make vital purchases ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

She said, “I don’t go to ATMs because my card has expired but that has never been an issue. But since last week, cash seems to have dried up and customers are no longer paying in cash and prefer to do transfers, so it has now become a problem.

“I have also minimised my cash spending, but I hope we don’t see a repeat of the scarcity issue we had early this year. The painful part is that I couldn’t get cash to shop for Christmas too. I need things for Christmas for my family,”

Another Christmas shopper, who identified himself as Mr Tunde Ogunde, condemned the cash scarcity, saying the situation had marred his preparation for Christmas.

“I believe we should do something about the cash scarcity, it has become worse. Poultry sellers and many petty traders are insisting on cash, which is affecting Christmas shopping.

At the Bwari Area Council of the FCT, the ATMs did not dispense cash.

Most banks available there comprising of First Bank, Zenith Bank and Polaris did not have cash in their machines.

PoS charges

The cash crunch made point-of-sale operators increase their service charge fee by at least 100 percent.

Findings showed that N200 was collected as a service charge for withdrawals of N5,000, and below, N400 for N10,000, N800 for N20,000, N1,300 for N30,000 and so on.

When The PUNCH queried the reasons for the price hike, a PoS operator, simply identified as Kunle Idowu, said it was the option to keep his business afloat as he had to source for cash from traders and market sellers.

He said, “On Friday, I went to the bank so, I could have enough cash for my customers during the weekend but to my surprise, the bank said, they could only give me N10,000 over the counter. What do you want me to do?

“I had to start begging traders and market women to help out. I have to keep the business afloat too, so the CBN and government should ensure that there is sufficient cash.”

A resident in Isheri, Lagos, Dupe Leke, said, “People now patronise the PoS operators who charge 100 percent of the previous charges on withdrawal.

“For instance, at a PoS stand, N5,000 now costs N200 against N100 in the months preceding the cash scarcity.”

Many Nigerians have opted for bank transfers to make payments for goods due to the prolonged scarcity of naira.

Traders, who spoke to our correspondent, said they preferred cash payment to bank transfer due to the high bank transfer scams recorded earlier in the year.

A trader, who sells food items, said, “Even though I accept bank transfers, I am afraid of the possible rise in the number of bank transfer scams that happened earlier in the year. So, I look at my customers well before I accept a transfer.”

A Lagos resident who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity said, “I mostly use electronic payment and it has been hassle-free, no hike in the charges.”

At the World Bank, Nigeria Development Update, December 2023 edition, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Yemi Cardoso, said that the prevailing cash scarcity was a result of the poor implementation of the naira redesign policy, which had resulted in hoarding by some Nigerians.

The CBN boss, acknowledging the glaring defects in various CBN policies, announced a comprehensive review initiative.

He said, “The apprehension surrounding the policy’s end date, well before the third quarter, triggered widespread hoarding. Many feared the old notes would lose legal tender status, prompting them to hold onto their cash.

“Unfortunately, the history of that lies with the naira redesign policy and coming to the end of the year, way before the third quarter, there was a lot of apprehension with respect to where this was all going to end; and whether the old currency would no longer be good for legal tender and many started hoardings.

“This is really what happened. Happily, the Supreme Court has decided that the currency will be valid post-end of the year.”

Also, the CBN said the amount of cash in circulation currently stood at N3.4tn.

A statement by its acting Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Mrs Hakama Sidi-Ali, said, “There is indeed an increase in currency in circulation. From N1tn in February 2023, we have seen a rise to over N3.4tn as of December 11, 2023. This demonstrates that enough cash is available, but unfortunately, it’s not circulating due to apprehension among some individuals.”

States lament

Naira scarcity has hit Makurdi, Benue State capital and environs as queues surfaced at the ATM gallery since Saturday.

Consequently, banks have limited the amount customers can withdraw.

A Point of Sale man, who simply identified himself as Julius, told our correspondent on Sunday, “I went to the bank yesterday, (Saturday) to withdraw money, but there was a long queue and the highest amount you can withdraw at FirstBank if it is your bank was N40,000 with your ATM.

“But if it is a different ATM, the highest amount customers could withdraw was N20,000.00.”

As a result of that, Julius said that the commission charged by POS had doubled since Saturday.

Commercial activities were at a standstill in Gusau and other parts of Zamfara State following the naira scarcity experienced by the people of the state.

Checks by The PUNCH showed that the ATMs were not dispensing money to customers, while POS operators were charging exorbitant fees.

POS operators were charging N300 for every N10,000 withdrawal due to the cash crunch.

In Benin, Edo State, there was a scarcity of cash with ATMs in major banks not dispensing more than N20,000.

The POS operators, who had cash, were having a field day as they charged exorbitant commissions for cash withdrawals.

POS operators in Minna, the Niger State capital, lamented that Deposit Money Banks had started rationing cash to them, which had forced them to also ration it to their customers.

ATMs dry up

A female operator, Hauwa Abdullahi, told The PUNCH that there was an obvious shortage of cash in the banks and ATMs were not dispensing cash.

Abdullahi said, “Banks have started experiencing a shortage of cash as the ATMs are not functioning properly. While the bankers are eager to collect from those depositing, they are reluctant to pay people withdrawing in full.”

Another operator, Timothy Nnadozie, expressed surprise that the cash crunch came up after the Federal Government had directed that both the old and new naira notes should be in use simultaneously and indefinitely.

“I can’t understand what is happening in the country. Only last week, the Federal Government directed that both the old and new notes should be accepted by Nigerians. Why are we not seeing enough money in circulation?” he asked.

PoS in Rivers State have cried out over the scarcity of cash in the state. They said the banks were limiting their withdrawals, making it difficult for them to satisfy their customers.

A PoS operator, who gave her name simply as Sarah, said, “Even now, some ATMs in some banks were dispensing cash. If you visit a bank to withdraw N100,000, they will only give you N50,000, and it is not enough for us.”

Our correspondent observed the number of ATMs dispensing cash in banks had reduced.

Many ATMs at different commercial banks within Osogbo metropolis, on Sunday evening, were not dispensing cash.

Specifically, at the FirstBank branch, Ayetoro and Wema Bank, Igbona, in Osogbo, ATMs were not dispensing cash when our correspondent visited them on Sunday.

A bank worker, who preferred anonymity while commenting on the situation, said that the Central Bank f Nigeria, Osogbo Branch had not been giving cash to commercial banks in the state in recent time.

“We rely solely on deposits from customers for cash in the last few days and people are not depositing cash lately. CBN is not giving commercial banks cash. If you move around Osogbo, most ATMs are not dispensing cash. It is because CBN is not giving banks cash,” he claimed.

In Gombe, residents have been battling with naira scarcity as most ATMs have not been dispensing cash.

Confirming the challenges of most residents, Danladi Bako said, “I went to one of the commercial banks, but I couldn’t make a withdrawal from the ATM. So, I had to enter the banking hall. It took the assistance of a member of staff before I got just N10,000.”

Also, another resident of the state, Godiya Iliya, noted that many customers prefer to transfer, adding that “In fact, getting money from POS operators has been difficult. They claimed there was no cash. Many customers just use their ATM cards or do transfers to buy things. When you ask them why, they claim, “No money on the ground’.”

Despite persistent assurance by the CBN on the availability of cash in circulation, residents of Sokoto and Kebbi States have been complaining of cash scarcity.

Our correspondent observed that most of the bank ATMs in the states were not dispensing cash throughout the weekend.

Also, many of the POS in the states had run out of cash as few of them who had cash got it from filling stations or their relatives in the market.

[Punch]

Tougher time awaits Nigerians following the recent advice by the World Bank urging the Federal Government to review upward the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS.

DAILY POST recalls that the World Bank on Wednesday, December 13, claimed that the government may still be paying for fuel subsidy, which was removed by President Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2023.

The bank claimed that the current price of fuel in Nigeria was not cost-reflective, saying it has to be reviewed upward.

The World Bank said the price of petrol should be around N750 per litre, more than the N650 currently being paid by Nigerians.

The bank’s Lead Economist for Nigeria, Alex Sienaert, revealed this during his presentation of the Nigeria Development Update, December 2023 edition titled, ‘Turning The Corner’ (from reforms and renewed hope, to results) on Wednesday in Abuja.

During the event, Sienaert noted that based on the official exchange rate, fuel should cost N750/litre.

He said, “It does seem like petrol prices are not fully adjusting to market conditions, so that hints at the partial return of the subsidy…assuming that importation is done at the official FX rate.

“We think the price of petrol should be around N750 per litre more than the N650 per litre currently paid by Nigerians.”

DAILY POST reports that the advice is coming amid terrible hardship bedevilling the country owing to the removal of fuel subsidy in May this year.

Recall that barely 24 hours after Tinubu announced the subsidy removal, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, jerked up the pump price of PMS from N195 per litre to as high as N577 in May.

Currently, Nigerians are paying N650 for a litre in some cities, while in some other areas it goes for higher than N670/litre.

The development skyrocketed the price of essential goods and services across especially staple food items across the country making life relatively unbearable for average Nigerians.

On Friday, the National Bureau of Statistics disclosed that Nigeria’s food inflation increased to 32.84 per cent in November from 31.51 per cent recorded in the previous month.

It is believed that should the federal government adhere to Word Bank’s advice, the increment would further impoverish the masses.

In separate interviews with DAILY POST, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and other stakeholders said the World Bank was not sensitive to the plight of Nigerians.

They warned the government against heeding the advice, citing the current economic situation in the country.

NLC spokesman, Beson Upah told DAILY POST that the World Bank was unperturbed about happenings in Nigeria, stressing that it would result in anarchy if the government followed the suggestion of the World Bank.

According to Upah, the current fuel price has already “destroyed the country” and there is no need to further hike the pump price.

He alleged that the World Bank “is Globalist North in thoughts and actions and has little or no consideration for the Global South.

“It is a predatory institution which the Global North uses to justify its crimes against the South.

“It is almost single-handedly responsible for the ruination of the economies of countries of the global South for which it prescribes one solution for all ailments!

“It does not care what happens to Nigeria or Nigerians so it could from its perch in Washington say whatever it likes or push around our leaders like househelps.

“Truth, however, remains that the present regime of pump price of PMS has all but destroyed the country. To now ask the government to raise it to N750 per litre is to invite anarchy upon the land.”

Upah wondered why the World Bank was mum on the current minimum wage in Nigeria but was concerned about fuel price increment.

“The World Bank is so hypocritical if it fails to see the nexus between price and capacity. The minimum wage in Nigeria for a privileged few is N30,000. Same minimum wage in the US where the law is enforced is N1.5 million.

“In light of this, if the government knows what is good for it, it should ignore the World Bank but remain committed to fighting inherent corruption in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry. It must also cut down the high cost of governance”, he added.

Similarly, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP told DAILY POST that the International Monetary Fund, IMF, and the World Bank were responsible for Nigeria’s economic woes.

The PDP spokesman lamented that Nigerians are yet to feel the impact of any palliatives from the government since the fuel subsidy was removed, stressing that the call for fuel price increase was unthoughtful and unacceptable.

He said, “I have never seen an economy teleguided by the World Bank that is doing well. The essence of the government is to care for the well being of the people.

“We are where we are together as a result of IMF and World Bank advice- secret devaluation of Naira to partial subsidy removal, from partial subsidy removal to full subsidy removal.

“Now they are advocating for an increase in fuel pump price to meet the dollar rate, whose interest? Nigerians’ interest or what IMF or World Bank wants?

“Since subsidy was removed we are yet to feel any impact of the palliatives and you are asking for an increase. What are they taking us for? Fool?

“Calling for an increase to the fuel pump is unacceptable and our government must reject that at all costs”.

On his part, Dr Yunusa Salisu Tanko, Chief Spokesperson for the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council in the last election told DAILY POST that the move by the World Bank was an attempt to continue colonising the African countries.

According to him, fixing the Nigerian economy is not about increasing fuel prices, stating that the solution to the country’s current problems was creative leadership.

He urged the Federal Government to ensure that refineries were built in each of the six geo-political zones in the country, saying such a move would help in crashing the price of fuel and reduce price of commodities in the market.

He said, “Increasing fuel price again would be the most callous decision this government will take.

“The people are already wallowing in abject poverty. They cannot feed themselves because of the pain the fuel price has already inflicted on them.

“The World Bank is trying to infiltrate our economy because the government is not creative.

“How can they deceive the Nigerian President that they will repair the economy if the price of fuel is increased to N750/litre? They will not repair anything. You need to be creative to be able to get out of a particular situation.

“As a government that has already taken so much debt, you need to find a way of getting your refineries to get working.

“You can build refineries and allow private organisations to also build in the six geo-political zones in the country.

“When this is done, the refineries will be refining products at a minimal cost, reducing the price from N670 to N300.

“The World Bank is serving its own interest and the interest of its people against the interest of our own people. So you need drastic decisions to be able to do that.

“If you continue to listen to the World Bank, they will continue to give you a kind of new colonial system. They have continued to enslave African countries. And this is where a strong leader is needed, unfortunately, I doubt if Tinubu is a strong leader”.

However, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr Mathew Adah told our correspondent that “there is no cause for alarm”.

According to him, “President Tinubu is an intelligent man. He won’t just begin to take action just because the World Bank advised. I believe he knows what to do.

“Anyone who says the President doesn’t feel the pains of Nigerians may be lying.

“He does but the fact is that Rome was not built in a day. We all know the kind of economy the government inherited from the previous one.

“Nigerians need to be patient. I’m convinced that with time, everything will go back to normal.”

[DailyPost]

Residents of Zurmi town in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State have cried out for help against persistent attacks by bandits on the village and its environs.

The assailants had, within the last one week, invaded the town four times, killed three persons, abducted 16 others and burnt a police outpost and two military operational vehicles.

The attacks, Daily Trust learnt, were led by two notorious bandits’ leaders, Sani Black and Sani Dan Karami.

Penultimate Saturday, the bandits attacked Nasarawar Zurmi, on the outskirts of Zurmi town, killed one person, abducted three others and razed a police outpost. The attackers returned to the town around 9pm on Monday, but residents alerted the soldiers who rushed to the area.

Nine residents were said to have been kidnapped; while another person, who resisted being abducted, was killed. The bandits again returned to the town on Tuesday, but were engaged by the soldiers in a gun duel, which residents said, lasted for two-and-a-half hours.

A resident, Auwalu Musa, said the bandits returned to the village yesterday again and kidnapped four women.

Why bandits are attacking us – Locals

A resident, Malam Aliyu Zurmi (not real name), said the bandits were attacking the community because the soldiers recovered stolen animals from them sometime ago.

Zurmi said: “The soldiers had, sometime ago, recovered a large number of animals from the bandits and it was suspected that the animals were recovered from Sani Black’s gang. The bandits’ leader was not happy with the development, hence, planned for Saturday and Monday’s attacks. So, we can understand Black was on a revenge mission.

“Now, he has kidnapped 12 people. I can tell you, only God knows how much the guy will collect from their families as ransom, especially now that we have harvested our farm produce. They know when we have money and when we don’t have it.”

Another resident, Idris Zurmi (Not real name), said: “We have all harvested our crops and stocked them in safe places. So, the bandits know that even if we do not have cash at hand, we have something that we can sell to pay ransom and that is why they are pursuing us to get money.”

Residents narrate ordeals

Malam Musa Bello, who narrowly escaped from the bandits during Monday’s attack, said: “I was at home when the bandits invaded Road No 17. I was lucky that my door was locked. While they were trying to break my door and gain access into the house, I called one of the soldiers on the phone who mobilised his colleagues to my house. So, when the bandits saw the soldiers coming towards my house, they (bandits) ran away. However, they succeeded in kidnapping my neighbour, Malam Nasiru, whom they met outside his house.

“Although the military war aircraft was deployed to Zurmi on Monday, there is no way the military can bomb the bandits because they (bandits) have already taken shields with locals inside their houses and if the aircraft strikes; only God knows the number of casualties that will be recorded.”

Another resident, Alhaji Sulaiman Ibrahim Zurmi, described the attack as terrible and devastating, saying “We saw hell on the very day the soldiers spent about two hours exchanging fire with bandits. The bandits came to the village around 4:30pm and engaged the soldiers in a gun duel until around 6:09pm.

“Sincerely speaking, I was terrified by the sound of guns during the battle. In fact, for days after the unfortunate incident, I was not able to sleep and or eat.

“When I realised that the trauma was negatively affecting me, I relocated to Gusau. This is because every evening, the shock comes back to me and always disturbs me. Tuesday’s attack was the 6th on Zurmi town within days. Majority of the residents along Road No 17 have relocated to the Zurmi town for safety. Road No 17 area is no longer safe.”

A father of four, Zurmi, said although normalcy had returned to the village, he had no plan of going back there in the near future. “I am communicating with my wives and if things subside, then I will go back; but if not, I will arrange for my family to also relocate to Gusau.

NGO suspends healthcare services in Zurmi

Following the upsurge of bandits’ attacks on Zurmi town, the Médecins sans Frontières (MSF), a non-governmental organisation rendering humanitarian services at Zurmi General Hospital, has temporarily suspended its services in the local government.

Abdulkareem Yakubu, the organisation’s Field Communication Officer, in a statement, explained, “With violent clashes taking place a few metres from the hospital compound on December 11, MSF is no longer able to guarantee the safety of patients or staff. There was an intense crossfire; we saw cars set on fire. Our team had to seek shelter in the hospital for a long time.

“Our teams are committed to providing medical support to the Nigerian population in Zamfara State, we will do our best to maintain the operations, but we wish to see improvements in the security situation to be able to provide the appropriate medical care”.

He said the resurgence of bandits’ attacks in Zurmi had led to the displacement of thousands of people in need of security, shelter and access to basic services.

He also stated that faced with security risks, MSF medical teams on the ground had to evacuate their staff and were “Unable to function optimally, having suspended provision of healthcare to communities outside of the town.

“In this context, our team is concerned about patients in need of medical treatment as they are unable to reach the hospital in a safe manner.

MS’s Deputy Field Coordinator in Zurmi, Adjide Hermann, said: “Some of the patients refuse to leave the hospital out of fear. We had no choice but to reduce part of our team, and the staff who are still working at the hospital are afraid of what is going to happen next”.

Also, Dr Simba Tirima, MSF Country Representative, expressed concern about the situation.

He stated: “This situation is untenable; we urgently appeal to the parties involved in the conflict to cease their hostilities to protect the population. This is also crucial to safeguard the medical mission and to maintain the safety of patients and medical staff.”

“While the hostilities continue, sick and wounded patients are those facing greatest humanitarian and health needs as they struggle to access healthcare. The December spike in extreme violence, including killings and kidnappings, comes within a wider context of insecurity in Zamfara State.

“The ongoing level of insecurity has forced the displacement of thousands of people. In Zurmi, most of these people are forced to live in unsanitary conditions, in two unofficial camps and schools serving as temporary shelters.

Zamfara govt to engage 4,200 security guards

The Zamfara State government has described the recent attacks on Zurmi town as unfortunate and barbaric, reiterating that the government would do everything within its power to address the menace of banditry in the state.

Speaking on a popular radio programme aired by Pride FM Radio, Zamfara, the governor’s media aide, Mustapha Jafaru Kaura, said the government was disturbed by the recent attacks on Zurmi.

“Zamfara State government and Governor Dauda Lawal are concerned about that recent banditry attack on Zurmi. The governor has ordered for deployment of additional security personnel to Zurmi to fight the bandits. Alhamdulillah, normalcy has returned to the area and the government will continue to fight the bandits.

“By the time our security guards complete their training and commission, they will complement the efforts of the Nigerian Military and other security agencies in the fight against banditry. We are expecting 4,200 security guards to be commissioned in Zamfara State soon.”

[DailyTrust]