By Suleiman Adamu, Sokoto
Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has called for reinforcement of the military and other security personnel to tame the activities of bandits and kidnappers threatening Sokoto state and the entire northwest region.
Tambuwal made the appeal to the Chief of Army Staff(COAS), Lt. General Farouk Yahaya who was in Government House on a courtesy call on the governor on Monday.
” We don’t have enough personnel and our resources are limited to successfully counter the situation.”
The governor who coincidentally disclosed to the COAS that bandits had Sunday evening attacked and killed scores at a market in Goronyo LG, noted that the activities of bandits and kidnappers has expressed very time affects socioeconomic activities and development of people in the state and region.
He drew the attention of the COAS to the fact that the pressure of what was happening in Zamfara state was mounting on Sokoto and other states of the northwest region including Kaduna, Katsina, and Kebbi states and Niger states.
According to Tambuwal ” we are feeling the heat of the menace and we don’t want it to continue to an escalating level”, pointing out that the situation was not so before the Zamfara operations.
While noting that the COAS came at a very trying moment of insecurity that has over time bedevilled the country , appealed to the Army Chief to refocus and restrategise for more personnel in the northwest.
He assumed of his continued support to the army and other security agencies towards the success of restoring peace and security in Sokoto and northwest as well Nigeria.
Earlier, Lt. General Farouk Yahaya who noted and acknowledged the efforts and support by governor Tambuwal to the army and other security agencies in terms of logistics, said the issue of security was a collective business of all stakeholders .
According to him” this is why the army is engaging in interactions with critical stakeholders as concerned d citizens by reaching out for operational strategies that will curtail he trend of insecurity.
” These criminals are within us. They are not from he moon and they don’t collect ransome and live in isolation “, he pointed out.
While disclosing that the army had succeeded in killing scores of them , Yahaya said others were apprehended in their numbers at various operations.
He however, said the army feel the pinch of all that has been happening and was ready to tame the situation with resilience and collective efforts of all .
” We are ever ready to sustain the tempo against those who strike and escape”, he assured.
While at the Sultan palace for a similar visit to seek the reversed monarch’s blessings, General Yahaya told Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar that he was on tour of troops to see for selve and interact with them on the operational activities targeted at restoring security.
He thanked the monarch for his indefatigable efforts and support at ensuring the smooth success of the military in its operations against banditry and kidnapping activities.
He noted Abubakar’s purposeful commitment to the course of peace and stability of the country.
In his remarks, Sultan Abubakar who was astonished at the wave bandits and kidnappers have swelled security challenges in the country through their nefarious acts, said ” we must actively partner one another as stakeholders for he security and peace of the Nigerian nation.”
He recalled saying ” even during the civil war, the army did not experience these magnitude of challenges.
” Though, your operational capacity is not in doubt and we are aware of what you are facing . We have absolute confidence in you and others in this most trying moment of difficulties.
” All thee challenges are not unsurmountable with your resilience and commitment and our collective resolve to tackle the menace is necessary and will help”, Abubakar pointed out.
He urged the military and other critical stakeholders to extend support to the COAS and other services Chiefs.
According to him” loyalty of army is paramount in the defence and stability of the country as a nation”, he reiterated.
