Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a full-scale state of emergency in all areas where criminals, so determined, are domiciled.
This, according to him, is pursuant to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and to further give effect to the process of proclaiming bandits as terrorists by the President.
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Governor Tambuwal, who met with President Buhari at the Presidential villa Monday evening for about thirty minutes, said the state of emergency would enable the Armed Forces to carry out their operations without let or hindrance in all enclaves affected by the declaration.
Muhammad Bello, Special Adviser Media and Publicity to the Governor, in a statement on Monday night quoted as saying these operations, once conceived and ready for execution, “should be carried out simultaneously in the states where the terrorists have strongholds, such as Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Niger and Kebbi; as well as elsewhere, where the criminals have hideouts.”
According to the statement, Tambuwal also called on the President to give a premium to the deployment of more manpower to all beleaguered areas just as he advocated for the procurement of sophisticated equipment, particularly, modern technology- which use is now centred around the deployment of drones globally.
He also appealed to the President, to consider popular opinions suggesting the recall of retired personnel for engagement in the war against terrorists and the recruitment of more personnel in all the security services.
In view of the security situation in the Sahel, which has escalated tension in the sub-region, the need to ask the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to seek extensive cooperation with the United Kingdom, France and the United States of America on security issues was also suggested by the governor, according to the statement.
On Friday, President Buhari sent a high-level delegation, made up of the heads of the nation’s intelligence and security services, to Sokoto and Katsina States in response to the recent spike in bandits’ activities.
The delegation, led by the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (Rtd), included the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba; the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi; the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar and the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Major General Samuel Adebayo.
A presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, in a statement, said the President is expecting an immediate situation report and recommendations on actions to follow to effectively deal with the worrying situation from the team.
On December 8, the President expressed sadness over what he called the “gruesome attack” on innocent travellers in Sokoto State.
President Buhari, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, said he was “very distressed at the manner of death visited on the hapless citizens who were undertaking a legitimate journey to another part of the country.”
President Buhari said the incident showed that “the evil this administration is confronting is one that requires the support and involvement of all Nigerians”.
The President, who extended condolences to the families of the victims, assured that “the security agencies will continue to give their all to bring to an end the operations of these despicable people.”
