Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, on Friday appealed to President Bola Tinubu for urgent federal intervention to address rising insecurity in parts of the state. Mr Mohammed made the request after a meeting with Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where he briefed State House correspondents on the worsening security situation.
The governor said the visit was prompted by escalating banditry in Alkaleri Local Government Area, particularly around the Daji Dam axis, where ungoverned forest spaces have allegedly provided cover for criminal groups.
According to him, bandits have exploited the difficult terrain to stage attacks on surrounding communities, leading to sporadic clashes with security operatives deployed to the area.
He warned that the situation could deteriorate into a humanitarian crisis if swift and coordinated action is not taken, noting that fear of further attacks has forced many residents to flee to neighbouring local government areas and states.
Mr Mohammed said he had earlier visited the affected communities alongside security chiefs to assess the damage before formally briefing the president and seeking special intervention. He disclosed that the president responded positively, directing security agencies to intensify operations.
“He has already given directives and they are doing a lot of activities in Kwara and Niger states where there are similar ungoverned spaces and banditry,” Mr Mohammed said. The governor added that Bauchi, Taraba, Plateau and Gombe states were considering a joint security summit to address threats emanating from forest areas along their shared borders, stressing that Bauchi had enjoyed relative peace for about a decade and must not relapse into instability.
He also expressed concern that growing investment interest in oil, gas and mining could be undermined by insecurity, reiterating his support for the creation of state police to strengthen local security responses.
On the political front, Mr Mohammed dismissed speculation that his visit was linked to defection talks. “I am a PDP man. I came here for governance and partnership, not for defection,” he said, maintaining that the Peoples Democratic Party remained a viable national platform despite its internal challenges.