Nigeria's president condemns attack in Sokoto

By Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu

KANO, Nigeria (AA) - Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday condemned the latest massacre of 15 people in the Goronyo and Illela local government areas of Sokoto state in the country's northwest.

"This needless and mindless violence against innocent people cannot go unpunished,” Buhari said.

From South Africa through a media aide, he warned that “this persistent and unprovoked violence against unarmed civilians must be met with a fierce response by the government."

“Let me once again reassure Nigerians that this administration will not abandon them to their fate in the face of this existential challenge caused by banditry.

“We are taking delivery of military equipment to improve the capacity of our security forces to effectively deal with this issue," he added.

Buhari said the military is “deploying advanced technology” to strengthen surveillance and operations to find and “crush these criminals and enemies of our common humanity.”

“This administration will not tolerate this state of affairs where criminals deprive the people of their means of livelihood,” he said. “The bandits are living in a fool's paradise if they believe that they can't be crushed. The criminals cannot be lucky always. They will ultimately meet their Waterloo.”