If elected governor of Niger state next year, Alhaji Isah Liman Kantigi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vows to put an end to the instability brought on by banditry.
Additionally, he pledged to cooperate with law enforcement and other security agencies to create an environment that is safe for businesses to grow.
In addition to donating N13.5 million to the victims, Kantigi made the vow while touring the IDP camps in the Gulu and Azza towns of the state's Lapai Local Government Area with his running companion, Mr Samuel Gwammna.
A PDP government in the state, according to Kantigi, will put an end to bandit assaults and assist the victims in getting back on their feet. He also offered his sympathies to the victims for "the sad circumstances they have found themselves in." Alhaji Kantigi visited the local government, gave out financial contributions, offered his condolences to the relatives of those who had lost loved ones, and went to the hospitals where those hurt in the catastrophe were being treated, according to a statement made available to the media in Minna.
The money was sent as a "gift from his campaign council to help them pick up their medical costs and to relieve their sufferings in the present hard economic environment," the governor-elect said.
According to the candidate, "this awful security situation in portions of the state would be handled to make space for a real development if voted into power in 2023."
According to the statement, Kantigi also made a condolence visit to Alhaji Umaru Bago iii, the Emir of Lapai, where he conveyed his support for the ruler and the residents of Lapai in the face of the continuous threat presented by bandits.
If elected in 2023, he said that "we would take the war to these criminal groups for the broader growth of the state," noting "a strong commitment and political will to bring the situation under control."
"There is no society that can accomplish any degree of progress with the current security scenario we have on our hands," Kantigi was quoted as saying. "However, I strongly believe that the problem will be solved with great dedication and political will."
Due to the poor living conditions of the IDPs, Kantigi informed the king that he frequently has difficulties sleeping. As a result, he added measures for improved infrastructure, agriculture, and security as well as increased social assistance in his programme.
The governor candidate was thanked by the Emir in his speech for coming, and prayers were offered for his success.