Governor Nasiru Elrufai has renewed appeal for the establishment of North West Theatre Command, similar to the one in place in the North East for effective security operation in the region.
He made the plea shortly after receiving this year’s second and third quarter security report at Government house Kaduna.
Malam Nasiru Elrufai said the establishment of a North-West Theatre Command would enable a holistic approach to counter insurgency operations across the affected states and the enhance coordination of security agencies and other local volunteers in the fight against insurgents.
He argued that the insurgency in the North-West compares not only to the North-East, but a threat to the 2023 elections and census if not tackled quickly.
Governor Nasiru Elrufai assured that, the state government would continue to do everything within its powers to enhance security.
“We have invested considerable resources and energy in managing security to the extent that the constitution permits a subnational”.
“Our interventions since 2015 include supporting the federal security agencies deployed in our state with vehicles and other logistics, collaborating with other frontline states to fund military operations in the 2015-2016 period and investments in security infrastructure and technology”
“The lessons learnt in the 2016-2019 period informed our decision to establish the first sub-national Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs at the beginning of our second-term in 2019”.
Malam Nasiru Elrufai however thanked the Federal Government for authorizing the launch of military and police offensives, and commended the security operatives for their efforts and sacrifices as they work to uproot the criminals.
He stressed the need for the Federal Government to sustain the ongoing efforts, to promptly address the needs of the SSS, military and police for modern technology, advanced armaments, equipment and more boots on the ground.
Governor Elrufai also expressed gratitude to Emirs and Chiefs for being the leading and influential anchors of peaceful coexistence and intelligence-gathering in various communities.
“The reports present detailed data on the persistence of the security challenge in our state. We publish these reports in fulfilment of our obligation to the residents of this state. Citizens have legitimate expectations to be provided with consistently accurate accounts of what is going on and to be updated on the measures being taken to address the security challenge”
“We have just seen the presentation made by Samuel Aruwan, our Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs. In stark terms, it demonstrates the continued severity of the security challenges and the unfortunate toll in killings, kidnappings, injuries and threats to the livelihoods of our people. We regret the pain and losses”
“The figures show a pattern of reductions in the gravity of security incidents in the second and third quarters of 2022, compared to the first quarter. This is a consequence of the intensification of offensive security operations against the bandits in recent months”.
Regarding concerns on political thuggery, Malam Nasiru Elrufai maintained that, elections must be addressed in a proactive manner.
“We need to profile political actors, map their thugs and bring them to justice immediately”.
According to him, those engaged in propagating injurious falsehood and incitement would be prosecuted.
The governor also appealed to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to conclude the Tax Credit arrangement with Dangote Group for the reconstruction of the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari highway and Birnin Gwari-Dansadau Roads which were approved by Mr. President since 2019.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed pointed out that, fixing security problem would help in addressing economy challenges.
According to him, fighting terrorism is not a simple matter of shooting and gunning down armed bandits and terrorist, stressing that it goes beyond that approach.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed commended the synergy between Kaduna State government, security agencies, media and traditional rulers .
While presenting the Security report, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan said troops killed 152 bandits and destroyed over 100 bandits camps in the second and third quarters of 2022.
“you will find that there has been notable progress made since military operations were intensified in the State. Across the six-month period reviewed”.
“152 bandits and terrorists were neutralized by ground forces around the state, saying,” scores more were neutralized during aerial assaults on identified camps and converging points”.
“16 bandits and terrorists were eliminated in fratricidal clashes in Birnin Gwari and Chikun LGAs, while,” over 100 camps occupied by bandits and terrorists destroyed”.
“In the same period under review, “Seventy-four (74) kidnapped persons rescued by security forces.
” Arms and ammunition intercepted from bandits, terrorists and gunrunners in the six-month period were, Two (2) General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), Seventy-four (74) AK47 Rifles, One (1) AK49 Rifle and Nine (9) Type 06 Rifles”.
“Other ammunition recovered were, “Four (4) Light Assault Rifles, Four (4) Pump Action Rifles, One (1) G3 Rifle, Sixteen (16) Locally made Rifles, Seven (7) Dane Guns, Three (3) pistols, Fifty-four (54) AK47 Magazines, One (1) G3 Magazine, Eleven (11) Pump Action Cartridges
and 5,398 rounds of live ammunition”.
” traffickers of illicit substances were apprehended and their stashes confiscated in the combined period, saying, “654 Suspects were arrested including 613 male and 41 female.
“While the quantities of seized illicit substances were, 2,759.891kg of Cannabis, 6558.007kg of psychotropic drugs and 0.064kg of Heroin”
He also revealed that security forces in October recovered at least 27 bags of fertilizer after raiding a notorious bandit camp in Kaduna.
According to him the bags of fertilizer were meant to be used by bandits to manufacture Improvised Explosive devices (IED’s).
Earlier, the General Commanding officer, one Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja reassured their commitment to improve on stability in communities.
Major General Lagbaja alerted the general public on the new tactics of terrorist especially on the new of improvised Explosive Devices EIDs.
COV/AMINU DALHATU