By Suleiman Adamu, Sokoto
COMMANDANT GENERAL
As the resurgence of banditry poses concerns in the eastern axis of Sokoto state where notorious Bello Turji swells attacks in recent time , Dr Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, the Sokoto state governor reiterated his administration’s determination and resilience at overcoming security challenges bedevilling the state.
Aliyu Sokoto stated on Wednesday evening when he received on courtesy call the Commandant General , NSCDC, Mr Ahmed Abubakar Audi at Government House, Sokoto.
He said the entire state was deeply worried over the resurgence of banditry in the state especially the eastern axis noting that the activities of bandits over the years had caused untold hardship , loss of lives as well threatened the peaceful atmosphere of residents in the eastern part of the state.
” We remain resolute at ensuring deliberate and practical steps are being employed to curtail the trend of bandits attack on communities , lives and property of residents across the eastern axis.
” I will say that we are fast restoring the peace and confidence of our people living in the eastern part of the state .
” We are also on track in building and boosting the morale of our security agencies and personnel deployed to the state for operations by upward review of their allowances.
” It will interest you to also appreciate our efforts at supporting security she cies in the state with logistics by providing 140 patrol vehicles to enable rapid response to security issues and challenges with ease . These will boost their capacity during operations”, he pointed out.
The governor also disclosed that the establishment of Community Guards Corps for pilot operations across 13 LGs , upgrade of SSS tracker to enhance information and effective intelligence gathering to secure lives and property of citizens for lasting peace were song other strategic steps to brace and support operations against banditry and sundry crimes in the state.
” I will like also to commend NSCDC and other security agencies in the state for working tirelessly as t ensuring a crime free Sokoto state” Aliyu Sokoto remarked as he graciously granted logistics and solar powered energy supply for its ICT unit request made by the NSCDC Commandant General for enhanced and effective security operations by the Corps in the state.
The governor also urged the NSCDC to brace for modern fighting equipment and close the gap created by inadequate manpower for effective and efficient operational capacity towards securing the country .
Earlier, the Commandant General , Ahmed Audi told the governor that he was on special strategic tour of NSCDC commands in the Northwest states inorder to ascertain their capacities and marshal out solution driven steps in solving sensitive security problems and challenges for effective operations against insecurity.
” Our country must not be left unsecured and saved for development. It is part of our core mandate to also ensure the safety , security and protection of critical national assets and infrastructure including other frontliner aspects as disaster and involvement in the registration, licencing and monitoring private security outfits operations for proper intelligence”, he pointed out.
Accordingly, Audi disclosed that the Corps was being strategically trained by conventional security agencies ; the Army, Navy , Police a reflection of the cardinal reason behind it establishment inorder to blend with the civil environment hence ” we do not have and live in barracks just to find ease interacting with and gathering intelligence to facilitate our routine operations in all security issues “, he said.
