By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
Sokoto state governor, Ahmed Aliyu while congratulating Nigerians for marking 65 years as an independent nation, has however, decried that, insecurity is bitterly militating against the nation’s quest for attaining the desired development.
The governor, in a statement signed by Abubakar Bawa, his Director General, Media and Publicity, appealed to all and sundry to rededicate themselves to efforts towards ending banditry and all other forms of criminality hindering Nigeria from attaining the desired development.
While noting that insecurity remained a major setbacks to Nigeria’s socio-economic and political development, the governor appealed for collective efforts to end the menace.
“As Nigeria marks 65 years of independence, we have to develop renewed commitment to ending banditry and other forms of criminality hindering the nation’s march to greatness”.
Continuing, the governor, described insecurity as one of the major setbacks to Nigeria’s socio-economic and political development, hence the call for collective efforts to end the menace.
“Governments at all levels, traditional rulers, religious leaders, as well as community leaders must work together if we are to end the activities of bandits in our rural areas,”
Reiterating his earlier stance on enablers of banditry and other criminality, the governor emphasized the need to eliminate the “informant syndrome” within rural communities, adding, it is responsible for many abductions taking place in Sokoto State and beyond.
On measures he has so far taken as the Chief Security Officer of the state, the governor said,
his administration, in attempt to curb insecurity has procured and distribution of over 180 patrol vehicles to security agencies, established the Sokoto Community Guard Corps and supported the outfit with 40 Hilux vans and 700 motorcycles, operationalized the Air Force base, and also reviewed upward the monthly allowances for security personnel deployed to volatile areas in the state.
“Other efforts include upgrading the DSS tracking device from 4G to 5G and constructing a new military base in Illela Local Government Area, among others”,
In his appeal to Nigerians as the nation celebrates 65, governor Ahmed Aliyu urged all to uphold the virtues of patriotism, and honesty of our founding fathers, ‘who made great sacrifices to secure self-rule from colonial masters.
“Our founding fathers saw themselves first as Nigerians before anything else, and that was why they succeeded in building a strong, indivisible nation,” the governor enthused.
This is even as he paid glowing tributes to Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, and other nationalists for their selfless service to Nigeria, urging Nigerians to emulate and uphold their patriotic example.
