Beatrice Gondyi Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, has directed security agencies to intensify operations against bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements across the state, following recent security gains recorded in Alkaleri Local Government Area.
Speaking during a meeting of the Bauchi State Security Council, the governor commended the joint efforts of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and local vigilante groups for their coordinated operations against criminal groups.
He particularly praised troops of the Nigerian Army’s 3 Division and the 33 Artillery Brigade for the successful intelligence-led operation that dislodged terrorists from Mansur village and neighbouring enclaves in Alkaleri, destroyed their camps and neutralised several high-profile criminals.
Governor Mohammed said the operation had restored confidence in the affected communities and enabled thousands of displaced residents to return to their homes.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Security Adviser and the Service Chiefs for their support and commitment to improving security in Bauchi State.
Despite the success, the governor warned that criminal groups displaced from neighbouring states were attempting to infiltrate Bauchi, leading to renewed cases of kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes.
He identified Ningi, Ganjuwa, Toro, Gamawa, Darazo and Alkaleri as areas facing varying security threats, ranging from criminal hideouts in forests and kidnappings for ransom to farmer-herder clashes and attacks on rural communities.
Mohammed directed security agencies to sustain the pressure on criminal elements by expanding the successful Alkaleri operation to other affected local government areas.
He called for increased joint patrols, improved intelligence gathering and aggressive clearance of criminal hideouts in forests, border communities and rural markets to prevent criminals from regrouping.
The governor also urged local government authorities to strengthen community surveillance and profiling, including the use of biometric registration where necessary, to detect and prevent the movement of suspected criminals.
Addressing traditional rulers, Mohammed warned against granting land or mining rights to suspicious individuals, stressing that anyone found aiding criminal activities or concealing suspects would face the full weight of the law.
“Silence in the face of crime amounts to an endorsement of criminality and will not be tolerated,” he said.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting security agencies through the provision of logistics, operational equipment and improved infrastructure.
He disclosed plans to introduce technology-based tracking systems to strengthen intelligence gathering and surveillance, while advocating the establishment of additional military formations and police stations in strategic locations across the state.
Mohammed also called on communities, traditional institutions and public-spirited individuals to collaborate with government in improving security infrastructure and supporting law enforcement efforts.
He urged security agencies to remain vigilant as political activities gather momentum ahead of the forthcoming local government elections and other major events scheduled to hold in the state, emphasizing that maintaining peace and security remains essential to Bauchi’s development.
Discussion about this post