By:Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has charged members of the Federal and States Security Administrators Committee to adopt new internal security strategies towards finding lasting solution to the security challenges across the country.
Speaking while declaring open, a 2 day security meeting for members of the committee held at Chartwell Hotel, Bauchi on Thursday, the Governor said that, “we cannot compromise our unity and territorial integrity as an indivisible entity, and our people must be guaranteed to sleep with both eyes closed.”
Bala Mohammed who was represented by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Barrister Abdulhamid Bununu, noted that no amount of commitment or expenditure is too much for the maintenance of peace and security in the country.
He tasked the participants as seasoned administrators and critical stakeholders in the administration of security in states and the nation at large to use the meeting and review strategies and share experiences on security challenges peculiar to each state, with the aim of proffering solutions to address the rising security challenges facing the nation.
The Governor said that the resolve of the State Government to host the meeting is a testament to its unwavering commitment to continue providing the necessary support to the security administrators in tackling contemporary and emerging security threats.
According to him, “We are committed to ensuring that we offer the needed support and foster better understanding among all the stakeholders for seamless tackling of the ever- evolving security challenges facing our states so as to make the nation safe and secure.”
He added that,”Therefore, I commend the efforts of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the FSSAM secretariat for organizing this important forum.”
He stressed that, “The Bauchi State Government has been supporting and collaborating, with the federal and other security agencies in the state to perform their constitutional duties.”
According to him, “We also engage in non- kinetic efforts and intensify peace-building initiatives by leveraging the relevant layers of government, security infrastructure and traditional institution in the fight against insecurity in the state.”
The Governor stressed that,”Our government also educates the citizens through the conventional and social media. We dialogue with religious leaders to help keep the citizens informed on the security situation and dispel false and inciting rumours. We also ensure credible intelligence gathering that serves to maintain the momentum in the fight against crime.”
According to him, as the primary responsibility of any government is to provide security and welfare for its people and in light of the rising spate of threats to security, across the country, his administration has adopted new initiatives to better manage internal security with the creation of Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs.
He further said that the Ministry was mandated to among others, formulate and coordinate policies on Internal Security and Intelligence gathering in the states, liaising with all Federal and State Security Agencies conventional and non-conventional and monitoring and Coordination of interfaith relations in liaison with the Ministry for Religious Affairs.
He further said that the creation of the Ministry has yielded some immediate positive results, notably, the enhancement of collaborative efforts with security agencies to strengthen peace and security.
He assured that the Government is committed to complementing the efforts of the armed forces, the police, and other conventional security outfits through providing logistics support, mobility, hardware equipment and other essential facilities.
Bala Mohammed added that, “There is no gainsaying the fact that security is everyone’s business. Improving internal security cannot, therefore, be left to the government alone. Insecurity impacts directly on the local populace, and as a remedy, citizens must be involved.*
“Various communities have come up with different security outfits aimed at policing their respective areas. To prevent the unhealthy proliferation of such groups, the ministry monitors and regulates their conduct. Bauchi State Government has created the State Vigilante and Youth Empowerment Agency to ensure sanity and structure in the operations of the community- based efforts, and their operations are being supervised by the Ministry,” he added.
“I am pleased to inform you that today, Bauchi State is ranked among the best States in tackling security challenges ranging from armed banditry, kidnapping, homicide, cattle rustling, and youth restiveness (sara-suka),*the Governor added.
He concluded that, “I am also happy to report that the conventional and non- conventional security formations within the state have also been playing vital role in addressing security challenges in the State. These initiatives have made Bauchi State the safest and most peaceful State in the North-East region.”
In a keynote address, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, represented by the acting Permanent Secretary Special Services, Tukur Yahaya appreciated Governor Bala Mohammed for his administration’s investment in the security sector.
He therefore appealed to all the stakeholders to join hands with the authorities to enable them rid the country against all forms of insecurity.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Chief Security Adviser to the Governor, Ahmed Chiroma reiterated the determination of the state government towards working with the relevant stakeholders in maintaining peace and security in the state.
Ahmed Chiroma assured stakeholders that the administration of Governor Bala Mohammed would continue to do everything possible to support the security operations with the basic logistics requirement, and other motivations for the effective discharge of their constitutional duties.
