The general consensus of opinion in Nasarawa state is that the present administration in the state has so far fared well in stemming the tide of insecurity as MOHAMMED YANGIDA reports.
Nasarawa state, like any other states in the federation, has its own share of security challenges leading to scores of deaths of security personnel and other innocent citizens.
Certainly, insecurity in the state has assumed a worrisome dimension that it not only requires a multi stakeholders approach in addressing it but also needs a total revival and reinforcement of security architecture.
Such efforts
Nevertheless, the citing of Police Mobile Force training college at Ende hills in Nasarawa Eggon LGA, Military base in Doma LGA and Air Force base in Lafia, the state capital, was intended to tackle the activities of Islamic sects Darul-Salam and Hakka in Toto and Awe local government areas of the state.The menace of kidnapping has pervaded the rural areas and resulted in the killing of a traditional ruler of Odu community in Nasarawa local government area, an immigration officer in Akwanga LGA, among others.
One of the critical steps by Governor Abdullahi Sule-led administration towards checking the menace of criminality in the state was offering the Lafia Cargo Airport as an operational base for the NAF 22 Quick response special forces.
The deployed NAF forces are to work in collaboration with Operation Whirl Stroke with a view to boost security in the state as well as the entire north central geopolitical zone.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, who was represented by AVM Charles Ohwo, during a visit to Lafia recently, urged them to be professional in conducts and ensure that the zone is free from insecurity.He appreciated Governor Sule for the facility provided for the 22 Quick response Wing in Lafia.
Sule commends Buhari and IGP
Governor Sule remained grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari for graciously approving the PMF training college in the state.He also commended the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu, and other Service Chiefs for conceiving the idea of establishing the college aimed at equipping the personnel with technical knowledge as well as strengthening the collective efforts in curbing security challenges in the country.. “I commend President Muhammadu Buhari as well as the Service Chiefs for the fight against terrorism and banditry and for taking the fight to the bandits in their hiding places.”
The governor has worked very hard to make the state more attractive to investors and launch initiatives to improve the economy, infrastructure, and unemployment in the state.
When he resumed office
On assumption of office, Sule swung into action in resolving Nasarawa/Benue crises especially around the border settlement. Both governors exchanged visits and discussed extensively the need for peaceful coexistence between the two states. Peace has finally returned to both states.
He emphasised that his administration would continue to support and cooperate with the security agencies and all well meaning Nigerians, towards ensuring that Nasarawa state remains not only peaceful but a domain of industrialisation and business hub.
According to him, ” My administration is determined to ensure that Nasarawa competes with any other state in the country in terms of development, job opportunities as well as ease of doing businesses.”
Governor Sule pointed out that he has identified security as the topmost priority of his administration, as without it, all the good things the government is working hard to put in place to better both the state and people may not come to fruition.”No matter the cost of security, it’s not too expensive for the state to bear. For us security is number one because without it, all we have been looking for in Nasarawa state will not actually come and be of any benefit to any one of our people,” Sule said.
According to the governor, the state is beginning to enjoy goodwill from across the country as exemplified by the recent listings of Nasarawa state as being among the top four states in the federation to attract investments as well as one of the 22 states known for their transparency and accountability with a special package earmarked for the state.
“With all these goodwill coming to us, we cannot allow our state to be distracted, not by any kinds of rumours, insecurity or any individuals no matter how highly placed they are.
“We won’t be distracted; we will remain focused, otherwise we would not achieve our development agenda,” the governor said.
He added further, “Irrespective of the prevailing security challenges, we will continue to put the state on the path of development. I thank President Muhammadu Buhari and heads of security agencies for always responding to the security needs of the state.
“The spate of insecurity in the state would not stop the effort to sustain the tempo of development strides by my administration,” he said.
While commending the security agents, especially military supported by the police, civil defence and Department of State Services over the recent dislodging of terrorists in Toto LGA as well as the capture of over 400 members of the families, the governor pointed out that there is need to sustain the successes so far recorded. According to him, recording such a feat is one thing and sustaining it is another.
He however tasked security agencies on sustaining successes recorded in the efforts to fight banditry and kidnappings in the Toto local government area of the state.
Thereafter, the 4 Special Forces command in Doma handed over the 778 women and children of Boko Haram terrorists and Bandits captured to 17 states of the north for profiling and reintegration into the society.The Commander of 4 Special Forces, Major General Maude Ali Gadzama said the Darul- Salam Islamic sect was taken over by Boko Haram for attacks on the seat of government in Abuja.
He said the group was responsible for the mayhem along Okene/Lokoja, Lokoja/Abuja and Toto/Umasha roads, making economic activities unsafe for communities around the area.
He explained that the arrest was made possible through the joint operations of the Doma Army Command with operation Whirl Stroke, Nigerian Navy ship Lugard, Nigerian Air force, Guards Brigade, the police DSS.
Moreover, Governor Sule, recently at the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) Abuja, while addressing participants of the executive Intelligence Management Course 13 and faculty members of NISS on the theme ‘Promoting National Security and Sustainable Development: The Nasarawa State Experience, recounted how the state leveraged on active collaboration with the federal government and security agencies in curbing insecurity.
The governor spoke extensively on the farmer /herders crises, banditry and effort his administration is making towards tackling insecurity in the state saying, “Policies are being put in place to make the state conducive for investors.”The interactive session had 18 agencies ranging from senior officers from military, intelligence, security, paramilitary, law enforcement and regulatory agencies as well as participants from Ghana and Gambia.
At the session, he called for a more realistic, transparent and honest approach in tackling Nigeria’s security and many developmental challenges.
Commendations
On his own part, the Emir of Lafia and chairman, Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs, Justice Sidi Bage (rtd) encouraged the governor not to be distracted by the security challenge.
“There is no doubt that there are a lot of distractions. Some people who decided to remain on the side of evil continue to constitute distractions to the good work that you are doing to the people of the state.”
He then blamed people outside the state for instigating the violence supported by some unpatriotic indigenes of the state to discredit the administration and assured him of their support to enable the state government succeed in addressing challenges in the state.
“On behalf of all of the traditional institutions, we want to let you know that no matter how much they think they will constitute an obstacle, they will not distract you,” Bage stated.
Also, a former senator, Suleiman Adokwe said Governor Sule deserves commendation for his efforts towards tackling insecurity because they know how the state used to be in the past.
“Governor Abdullahi Sule has departed from the past when the government either looks aside when some communities are attacked or are suspected to have a hand in such attacks.
He noted that apart from the problem of banditry, kidnapping, terrorism going on in the entire country, the state has less problem of communal crises under the present governor.
He explained further that even though he is a member of the People Democratic Party (PDP), he always commend the ruling party where they did well and point out where they are going wrong as an elder statesman.
