December 30, (THEWILL) – Northern Elder Progressive Forum has said the recent visit of the Minister of State for Defense, Dr. Bello Muhammad Matawalle, to the United States of America to brainstorm on how best to improve on the issue of security in Nigeria is well commended.
The Forum’s Chairman, Dr. Usman Sani, stated this during an interview with Journalists while giving the Forum assessment on the issue of insecurity within the Northwest states on Saturday in Sokoto.
The Forum commended the Minister for his steadfast efforts toward ensuring that the northwest states are safe from nefarious activities of armed groups.
“We commend the efforts of the Federal Government under President Tinubu on his genuine determination to fight against insecurity challenges facing our region, especially with the recent visit to the United States by the Hon Minister of State Defense, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, hoping it will yield a greater benefit & success on the war against banditry, criminal activities in the Northwest and country in general.” the Forum said.
It also noted Matawalle’s recent directive that gallant troops, henceforth, for the sake of urgency, identify and clamp on bandits’ enclaves even without an ‘On-the-Spot’ order from above, saying “the directive has really helped in sustaining the fight against the activities of bandits.”
It stated that such a directive has impacted positively in saving lives and properties of innocent citizens who are at the mercy of the armed bandits.
The Forum said it is well pleased with the improvement recorded under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership within the short time of his administration, unlike what had been obtained in the past.
According to the Forum: “We have seen over 260 persons being rescued from armed bandits’ dens and many bandits being eliminated by the military through various airstrikes and ground operations.
“This is a great achievement under this administration unlike what we experienced under the previous government of former President Muhammadu Buhari.”
It urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sustain the success being recorded in its administration’s fight against banditry and other criminalities across the northwest states.
The Forum, however, charged the President not to relent and continue his usual support to the course of securing the lives and properties of Nigerians.
The Forum said it supports the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar’s view of urging security agencies to ensure synergy between themselves in achieving maximum results in the fight against criminals.
It decried the politicising of security issues among political elites, especially some State Governors, who often abandoned their state’s insecurity situation for unwarranted official travels.
About the Author
Tunde Omolehin is an award-winning Journalist with prose in investigative and storytelling that is connecting the dots between the under-reported communities and policymakers to ensure good governance and accountability.
