Insecurity

By Uzair Adam

Details have emerged on the death of Halilu Sububu, a notorious bandit leader who had been terrorizing Zamfara State and neighboring areas.

Sububu, also known as Buzu, was killed in an ambush set by Operation Hadarin Daji troops on Thursday.

Sources indicate that the ambush occurred at Kwaren-Kirya village on the Mayanchi-Anka road in Zamfara.

The Daily Reality gathered that Sububu and his fighters were engaged by the troops while attempting to cross a stream.

Only three of their motorbikes managed to escape the scene.

Local residents in Mayanchi and surrounding villages are celebrating the operation and expressing gratitude to the military, calling for continued efforts to address banditry in the region.

Originally from Niger Republic, Sububu had established control over illegal gold mining sites in the Anka Local Government Area and was a significant figure in the region’s criminal activities.

Several media reports have indicated that he had been wanted by the Defence Headquarters since May.

The military has reported recovering weapons and motorbikes from the bandits, marking a notable success in the ongoing anti-banditry campaign in Nigeria’s northwest.

By Uzair Adam

The Katsina State Government has unveiled a new initiative aimed at equipping communities with the necessary skills and support to defend themselves against criminal activities such as banditry and kidnapping.

Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, while speaking on the program, noted that the government is ready to train and support communities willing to take proactive measures to secure their areas before the arrival of security personnel.

He stated, “We have come up with an initiative that for any community ready to depend on itself, we will give them the necessary support and training to engage criminals before the security agents arrive.

“The governor recounted a recent visit to Tsamiyar-jino village, where it took him over two hours to reach the settlement from the main road. He pointed out that in such remote locations, the response time of security agents is significantly delayed, leaving the residents vulnerable to attacks.

“If bandits strike in such areas, by the time security forces arrive, the damage would have already been done,” Radda said, stressing the need for immediate community action in the face of insecurity.

By Uzair Adam

The Sokoto State Government has equipped the newly established Community Guard Corps with 20 Hilux vans and 710 motorcycles.

The vehicles were handed over on Thursday by Col. Abdul Usman (Rtd.), the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, during a ceremony at the corps’ state headquarters.

The Daily Reality reports that the move was part of the government’s strategic efforts to address rising security concerns in the state.

Commanders from the 13 local government areas most affected by banditry were present to receive the vehicles.

Col. Usman highlighted that the provision of the vehicles aims to enhance the corps’ reach, particularly in remote areas of their communities.

He also stressed the need for responsible use, reminding the personnel that the vehicles are strictly for official purposes.

“These vehicles and motorcycles are not for personal use. The government has invested significantly in acquiring them, so ensure they are well-maintained and used appropriately,” he advised.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has reaffirmed the collective concerns of northern governors regarding the rising insecurity in the region, and emphasized strong commitment to partnering key stakeholders to tackle the issue effectively.

The Governor restated this on Monday while receiving a comprehensive report of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) put together by the Experts’ Committee on insecurity in Northern Nigeria as part of the outcomes of the recently conducted roundtable meeting held in Abuja.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya noted the growing impact of insecurity on the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians, particularly in the agricultural sector, which has led to hike in food prices affecting not only the Northern states but the entire nation.

He emphasized that the governors are committed to tackling the insecurity that has plagued the region, which has hindered farming activities, exacerbated the inflation of food commodities and general economic challenges faced by the country.

“As Governors, we are deeply concerned about the security situation in Northern Nigeria. This region has the largest portion of the country’s population and is endowed with mineral resources and fertile soil ideal for farming. The region’s agricultural strength plays a significant role in ensuring food security in Nigeria. Unfortunately, the current insecurity is disrupting these activities, contributing to the rising cost of food commodities, which affects all Nigerians, not just those in the North”, the Governor stated.

As part of the NSGF’s response under his leadership, Governor Inuwa Yahaya announced plans to convene an expanded meeting which will bring together all relevant stakeholders, including past and present leaders, traditional rulers, security chiefs, and civil society organizations, to discuss and implement strategies aimed at restoring the glory of the region.

“This time around, we want to take a collective approach to the insecurity issue. This report is timely. We will study it and work together towards its implementation. We are currently planning to convene an expanded meeting with all critical stakeholders in the region to further explore how we can come together to propose solutions that will genuinely address these problems completely”, the Governor said.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya also commended the leadership of the CNG for its detailed analysis, acknowledging their role in addressing the region’s most pressing issues.

Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation and Chairman of the Committee of Experts on security component of the CNG, Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim, explained that the report presented to Governor Inuwa Yahaya is a culmination of a long and painstaking process looking at the changing faces of insecurity in Northern Nigeria with a view to proffering workable solutions.

Highlighting some content of the report, he acknowledged the imperative of All Society Approach introduced by the group which will establish synergy among stakeholders across the spectrum of Northern Nigeria in tackling insecurity.

He said the group has already submitted the same report to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the office of the National Security Adviser NSA for onward processing.

While acknowledging the peace and tranquility of Gombe State, the leader of the delegation however, explained that no state is totally immune from criminal activities so long as contiguous states are confronted with incidences of crime and criminality.

The Governor was joined in receiving the group by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, the Head of Service, Alh. Ahmed Kasimu Abdullahi as well as Commissioners and Special Advisers.

By Uzair Adam

The Federal Government has directed the Chief of Defence Staff and other military heads to relocate to Sokoto, which serves as the headquarters for the General Officer Commanding (GOC) overseeing Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kebbi states.

The Daily Reality learned that the move is part of a concentrated effort to eliminate the threats of banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism in the North West region.

In a statement, the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, expressed his deep concern over the ongoing activities of terrorists and bandits in Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kebbi states and their surrounding areas.

He announced that a significant military operation would soon be launched in Sokoto, targeting banditry across the region.

“The Honourable Minister of State for Defence, H.E. Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle MON, has expressed his sadness over the activities of terrorists and bandits terrorizing Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kebbi states and its environs.

“Consequently, the Honourable Minister of State has directed the Chief of Defence Staff and other military chiefs to move to Sokoto, the Headquarters of the GOC Sokoto,” the statement read.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Chief of Army Staff Taoreed Lagbaja has reassured Nigerians that the military will soon surmount the prevailing security challenges. 

Mr. Lagbaja stated this during the COAS combined second and third Quarters Conference 2024 closing ceremony on Thursday in Uyo. 

“The reassurance is based on the security briefings we received from different army formations and commands across the country. I must say that the feedback from the various commanders is encouraging.  

“They show that the prevailing security challenges facing our dear nation, though daunting, are surmountable and that we are indeed on the right path to victory,” Mr Lagbaja said. 

He also expressed the loyalty and commitment of the Nigerian Army to the country’s constitution as well as the promotion of national interests and values. 

“I assure Nigerians of our resolve to continue to collaborate with its sister services and other security agencies to ensure security of lives and properties across the country.

“I encourage the law-abiding Nigerians to continue to support the government and the security forces in the efforts to make our country safe and prosperous,” added the army chief. 

He thanked participants for their sincerity and passion throughout the deliberation, just as he stated that the secretariat had adequately captured the decisions made during the deliberations.

By Anwar Usman

Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, has expressed concern over the rising cases of out-of-school children, poverty and other socioeconomic problems in the North, stating that the region was on the verge of collapsing if the leaders do not come together to find solutions to the challenges.

Sani raised the alarm during a courtesy visit by the National Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Mamman Usman to Kaduna State.

He said, “This new executive committee has emerged at a time of great challenges. We are confronted with difficult developmental and security questions. Criminal elements have been laying siege to communities in the North and reversing our progress on multiple fronts. Our development deficits are scary and require urgent attention.

“In 2022, the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Bureau of Statistics launched its most extensive measure of multidimensional poverty. The survey revealed that 63% of persons living within Nigeria (that is about 133 million people) are multi-dimensionally poor. 65% of the poor (that is 86 million people) live in the North, while 35% (nearly 47 million) live in the South.

He further states that, “The North is not succeeding in any in the area of Education. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) puts the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria at 18.3 million. Of this outrageous number of out-of-school children, about 70% are in the North of Nigeria. This is quite disturbing and must worry all of us who still care for the North and Nigeria in general.“

As I mentioned earlier, insecurity in the North has retarded developments in the critical sectors. a lot of farmers cannot access their farms. Food insecurity now confronts us directly. Child and maternal mortality are on the increase. Our infrastructure has decayed. The moves to address our infrastructural deficits are equally threatened by insecurity.

“For the North and move decisively to change these negative development indices. Unfortunately, what we see in the North is the promotion of toxic politics, opposition for opposition’s sake, and “pull him down syndrome.

“We indulge in endless blame games, devoid of attempts at soul searching or introspection. We have failed to ask ourselves some vital questions. Where did the rain start beating the North? Who are those complicit in the underdevelopment of the North?

“The Arewa Consultative Forum has a major role to play in building this required consensus for the best approach to tackle the multifaceted challenges facing Northern Nigeria. ACF must make efforts to refocus the attention of our people. Let us de-emphasise politics and focus on development. Let us gear our efforts towards overcoming the threats with all the energy we can muster”.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Governor Dauda Lawal has approved an Executive Order to restrict the movement of motorcycles in Zamfara State.

The governor signed the Executive Order on Thursday at the Government House in Gusau, the state capital.

A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, revealed that the Security Council decided to restrict motorcycle movement in Zamfara during an emergency meeting on Wednesday.

According to him, to legally enforce the restriction, the state’s Attorney General, Abdul’aziz Sani SAN, presented Executive Order No. 07, 2024 to the governor which was subsequently assented.

“Today, Governor Dauda Lawal signed an order to restrict and prohibit the movement of motorcycles from 8:00 pm to 6:00 am in Zamfara State.

“This is in an effort to protect the lives and property of the people, as well as to curb security challenges and broaden the scope of government measures to strengthen the fight against banditry and other forms of social vices in the state.

“Effective immediately, all motorcycles are now restricted within the state between 08:00pm and 06:00am.“No motorcycles are allowed to travel on any road in the state during these hours. Security agencies are instructed to arrest anyone who violates this order.

“The Attorney General of Zamfara State is authorized to prosecute those who disobey the restriction order.”

By Uzair Adam Imam

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has advocated for the utilization of advanced technology to address the security challenges in his state and the broader Northern region.

During a meeting with Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations in Washington, United States, Governor Lawal emphasized the importance of deploying advanced technology to combat insecurity.

This statement was conveyed through the governor’s spokesman, Sulaiman Bala Idris, in a release issued yesterday.

The meeting, which included governors from Zamfara, Benue, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, and Niger states, received praise from the Deputy UN Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed, who commended their efforts in seeking lasting solutions to regional challenges.

Governor Lawal highlighted the critical role of technology in enhancing security, emphasizing the need for a coordinated approach to leverage technological advancements such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), biometric identification systems, and surveillance cameras.

He stated, “We are faced with common problems, primarily insecurity, which demands urgent action.

“Due to insecurity, agricultural activities have suffered, and there’s a pressing need to transition from traditional farming to modern agriculture by leveraging technology to combat insurgency.”

By Sulaiman Maijama’a

In recent times, the most vicious of all vices in our society is phone snatching. This dastardly act is perpetrated by gangs of youth of 15 to 25 years who carry weapons and terrorise people. Sometimes, these youth injure their victims or even stab them to death.

This evil act usually is plotted and carried out at night, but sometimes, in broad daylight, the youth disguise themselves as tricycle operators and unleash their cruelty against people. There is hardly a week that would pass on without a report of a victim of phone snatching.

This activity becomes a nightmare for people and poses a great threat to the freedom of movement of innocent citizens, making it difficult for them to go about their everyday business, especially at night, without the fear of being attacked by phone snatchers.

It is common knowledge that phone snatching continues to be pervasive in different states of the North. It assumes a higher degree in states like Kano, Bauchi, Plateau, and Gombe.

The nefarious activity can be directly or indirectly attributed to a lack of proper parental care and broken homes. The youth who lack good parental care or come from broken homes usually move with the wrong people, and their movements are not queried or followed up, thus having the freedom to do anything without being probed.

Peer pressure is another cause of youth involvement in social vices. The youth who spend more time with their friends easily get influenced due to their weak nature and tender age.

Youth have a high level of curiosity to learn, have fun and practice new things, thus making them deviate. And as the saying goes, “Show me your friends, and I will tell you who you are” The significance of friends and how they influence lives is so enormous that many youths were conscripted into phone snatching.

Parents’ negligence also makes the wards turn to their friends for love, emotions, care, and advice, who can lure them into deadly acts. An abandoned child can look up to their friends for love and affection. Some maids, house helpers, and family members who are always around children without parents can introduce these vices to them.

Not only that, but unemployment has also added intensity to immorality that graduates to this monster called phone snatching that threatens the social well-being of the people. 

According to the report by a Global consulting firm KPMG, titled “Global Economic Outlook”, Nigeria’s unemployment rate was projected to rise further to 40.6 per cent this year. This revelation is alarming and must be uppermost in the mind of every responsible citizen. “An idle mind”, as an adage says, “is a devil’s workshop”.

Drug abuse is another social determinant. Despite the pronouncements of the efforts by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to curb the menace, the percentage of drug abusers is on the rise, and they quickly and freely access the hard drugs of their choice. This allows the youth to be intoxicated before they carry out their devilish act of phone snatching.

It is pertinent that all stakeholders should rise against social vices. Youth that engage in these dangerous acts need help, advice and rehabilitation for the addicted ones.

Parents need to know their children’s friends, status, and other people the children associate with. This is majorly the role parents should play in their children’s lives. Mothers should, in particular, be close to their children. Close monitoring and time should be given to children by parents. Children should be taught the moral values that might help shape their cognitive abilities.

The media ought to be playing their roles of education and information by organising forums to enlighten people about the dangers associated with social vices. Similarly, they should be playing surveillance by warning early on of any potential danger.

Security operatives, government and all stakeholders must be active and alert to caution, rehabilitate or punish (where necessary) any person seen as a threat to others.

All hands must be on deck to combat the menace of phone snatching in our societies.

Maijama’a wrote from the Faculty of Communication, Bayero University, Kano. He can be contacted via sulaimanmaija@gmail.com.