Security of the lives and property of citizens is the primary responsibility of the government. This does not happen overnight but depends on the degree of attention security operatives are receiving, in terms of provision of relevant and requisite materials. In this regard, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state stands to make a difference. His usual move to nip security challenge in the bud deserves commendation.
The 50 operational vehicles donated recently to security agencies in Bauchi state by the governor must be a topic of discussion among people of the state and beyond. Regardless of political affiliation, we stand to give testimony that in the history of Bauchi this is first of its kind. For a state governor to have distributed 50 operational vehicles equipped with communication gadgets and other facilities required to maintain peace and security, must have been rooted in his subconscious out of passion for peace. Indeed, this is worthy of emulation, especially those whose states are epicenters of insecurity.
Do we have the idea of the extent to which these vehicles will assist the agencies? I may not be a security expert but, from experience I know many security agents attribute their inaction and inability to defeat armed robbers, kidnappers, bandits, cattle rustlers, among other miscreants, to lack of sufficient and sophisticated fighting equipment. Sometimes, a crime will be reported to police but, unfortunately, their only car might be on patrol elsewhere and so, before it reaches the scene the criminals have perpetrated their evil and fled.
I believe these vehicles will assist the agencies with prompt response to emergencies, they will be more emboldened to rise against armed robbery, kidnapping, cattle rustling, farmer/herder clashes and boundary disputes, among others, thereby maintaining the peace and tranquillity being enjoyed in the state. If this happens, the tag ‘pearl of tourism’ given to Bauchi is proven and there will be an influx of investors and tourists.
Sulaiman Maijama’a,
Faculty of Communication,
Bayero University, Kano
