Insecurity in Nigeria has remained a festering wound that appears gangrenous, it’s a problem that unsettles everybody, the president, the governors and all people who wish this country well are having sleepless nights as a consequence of the monstrosity arising from general insecurity, specifically banditry, and kidnapping. The northwest of Nigeria is hard hit by the menace of banditry, in particular, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, and Sokoto states are worse hit by this ghastly menace.
By Aminu Binji
Ahmed Aliyu was unmistakably categoric in his campaign blueprint particularly concerning insecurity, for nothing development-wise thrives where insecurity thrives. He pledged to render unalloyed attention to everything that has to do with security in the state, so far, nobody is in any shred of doubt as to the veracity of his avowed readiness to go the whole hog in fulfilling his campaign undertakings.
On assumption of office, the first task he undertook was to engage heads of security formations in the state in a fact-finding parley. It was then discovered that the soldiers who were stationed in banditry flash points were denied their allowances for months, as a mark of his eagerness to right the wrongs of the past, Ahmed Aliyu instantly defrayed the unpaid entitlements.
We all are living witnesses to the moral and financial motivation he has been extending to the various security formations in the state, months ago, dozens of vehicles were distributed to all the key formations as a proactive measure to galvanize and boost their morale in the discharge of their onerous task of securing the state.
Recently, the Governor was in Sabon-Birni to show concrete solidarity with the people who were in constant horror with the nefarious activities of bandits as the Isa-Sabon-Birni axis remains the most ravaged in the state. Foodstuffs, essentials, and money were shared with the people who were identified to have been displaced by bandits. Similar gestures were earlier extended to the displaced around the Gwadabawa-lllela axis.
It should be understood that other relevant interventions are not in the knowledge of the public that the governor does daily in concert with the security formations to ensure success in the duel with bandits.
As a more kinetic approach to the onslaught against insecurity, Ahmed Aliyu in his wisdom opted for the formation of the Sokoto State Community Guards Corps (SSCGC). As a governor, there’s a limit to what Ahmed Aliyu could do to arrest insecurity, however, so far so well, as keen observers and commentators, we cannot but concur that, he has done remarkably laudably thus far in his unflappable zeal to wrestle and defeat banditry in the state.
The SSCGC as a child of necessity is populated with over 600 able-bodied men trained as Guard Corps drawn from across the local government areas of the state after careful selection by a competent committee. The persistent attacks by the renegades, the bandits angered the people of the concerned communities who rose in unison with the government to sacrifice themselves in fighting the menace, this therefore informed the formation of the Guard Corps with all the requisite legal, legislative, and executive trappings.
In his 2023 campaign remarks, Ahmed Aliyu undertook to commit whatever it takes financially and materially to deracinate banditry in the state, he is technically working to fulfill that promise as the State Community Guard Corps comes to life.
It would not be missed by all people who wish Sokoto state well to understand how much money must have been invested in recruiting and training over 600 personnel, procurement of 70 Hilux vehicles and 700 motorcycles to be deployed for use by the Corps across the state!
Wannan kokari ya yi kyau,fatar mu dai Allah ya karfafi Ahmadun-Alu, ya taimaki wadannan Corps, ya aza su kan hanyar gaskia da adalci, Allah ya sawaqa mu na matsalar tsaro da tsadar rayuwa, amin.
We find this kinetic approach roundly commendable; may God strengthen Ahmadun-Alu, may He also help these new Corps, guide them right put them on the path of justice, and may He roll back insecurity and this ghastly cost of living, amen.
Binji contributes from the Cabinet Office, Sokoto.
