Sokoto state governor, Aminu Tambuwal has told president Muhammadu Buhari that the state is left vulnerable to the activities of bandits and required urgent action from the presidency.
The governor said this when he received the nation’s security chiefs led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Munguno at the government house on Friday.
Tambuwal said that Sokoto, in the last four days, had witnessed broad-daylight attacks and kidnappings “in some parts of Isa, Sabon Birni, Tangaza, Illela and several other local government areas of the state.”
According to him, this situation was heightened by the influx of bandits and criminal elements displaced by the defective maneuvers of security personnel deployed under Operation Hadarin Daji, to end their activities in neighboring Zamfara state.
“This has left the state very vulnerable to the deadly and inhuman activities of these criminal elements.
“Operation Hadarin Daji, the precursor of the escalation of tension and crisis in Sokoto state was carried out without any blocking force around the neighboring states.
“Also, the timing of the operation, whereby our security agents do not have enough equipment to move and contain those that would pander towards Sokoto state, didn’t help the timing as well. So, the timing and way the operation was carried out left Sokoto very vulnerable.
“It does appear as if those bandits pursued from Zamfara state have relocated to Sokoto. This is a very serious call for concern. President Buhari should deploy more resources to Sokoto state.
“There is need for more boots on the ground. I am familiar with the situation at the center, but I believe that something can be done, and, that should be done urgently and expeditiously because our situation is getting out of hand,” Tambuwal stressed.
Tambuwal reiterated his counterparts’ commitment and support to the President in the fight against insecurity and other evils.
He said his government had done everything possible for security agencies in the state.
“Here in Sokoto state, you can verify this from the heads of security agencies, there is nothing they have asked of us that we have not done. Absolutely nothing. Since the commencement of this administration, we have given security personnel in Sokoto state not less than 500 vehicles.
“We are also doing whatever it takes in terms of funding from our own end despite the lean resources that we have as a state,” he said.
Earlier, Monguno thanked Tambuwal for cutting short an official trip to receive the federal government delegation at a very short notice.
“We are in Sokoto on a specific mission and instruction of President Buhari to condole you and the very good people of Sokoto state as well as His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, who apparently is in Abuja, over the unfortunate incidents that have been occurring over the last couple of weeks.”
He explained that their visit “affirms the seriousness with which Mr President views the occurrence of the last couple of weeks.
“It has been unfortunate series of developments in which very innocent lives have been lost.
“No life lost is one that is less important. Every life of every citizen is important; and it gives great concern to Mr President that needless loses of lives are occurring.
“Mr President wants me to convey his profound condolence over the loss of all the citizens who have departed. He wants us to also express his deep sympathy as well as his determination that the perpetrators of this very gruesome, wicked activities are apprehended and brought to book.
“The very fact that the very top security echelon in the country is here is an indication that Mr President wants us to address this issue so that some form of comfort is given to the people of Sokoto state by a definite closure through a definite process in concluding what has happened to these unfortunate and innocent citizens.
“Mr President is deeply troubled that fellow citizens had to go through this trauma. He has charged to make sure that all the relevant agencies do not rest until we are able to flush out the perpetrators of not just these last two incidents that occurred, but also previous incidents,” Monguno said.
The delegation later had an hour closed-door meeting with Tambuwal; deputy governor, Manir Dan’Iya; the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Aminu Achida; chairmen of Isa and Sabon Birni local government areas; heads of security agencies in the state, some traditional rulers and other top government officials.
Others on the delegation include, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba; the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Maj. Gen. Samuel Adebayo; the Directors-General of the State Security Service and the National Intelligence Agency, Yusuf Bichi and Amb. Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar, respectively.
