Following the unabated pogrom that was recently unleashed by herders in Plateau communities and other isolated cases in northern Nigeria, his Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, said that traditional rulers are worried than an average politician concerning the wave of insecurity in country.
The royal father was speaking at the Northern Traditional Ruler’s Council 7th Executive Committee Meeting in Maiduguri, on Tuesday, saying they have come together as servants of the nation to discuss contentious security issues in a closed-door meeting.
He said, “Our coming together as traditional rulers in the North, I believe we have more than 86 in the North. We will speak with one voice to say ‘enough is enough’ of this senseless killing of innocent people across the North and across the country.
“We have released so many statements of condemnations, but how many times do we need to condemn these killings before our political leaders and security agencies stop or reduce the insecurity in the country to the barest minimum?
The Sultan continued, “We, the traditional rulers, feel bad and saddened when our people are killed by people we don’t know. It’s high time we worked harder, talk to ourselves and in closed door meeting discuss it. We shall advise our political leaders, they are at the helm of affairs and we will work with them,” he said.
He however expressed optimism that the insecurity in the North can be resolved, only if the political leaders, traditional and religious leaders and citizens alike are sincere and willing to play their parts.
According to him, “As traditional rulers, we are not competing with governors of our states, we are only helping them. We will not and will never be in contention with political leadership or governors”.
The traditional rulers weighed all options and areas of discontent that is responsible for the insecurity in the north in particular.
He explained, “Since we are here, we will discuss the happenings in Borno. We heard some comments that Boko Haram is returning, and I say Insha Allah (God willing) Almighty Allah will give us the strength and wherewithal to defeat them.
“Also, our coming here is to put a joint statement that we are all brothers to one another, and whatever we shall do, we must do to help our brothers out,” he said.
He called on the people in the region and the country as a whole to have trust in God, citing the insecurity happening around the world.
“Yes, there is insecurity in some parts of the Borno, but there is insecurity everywhere in the world not only in Nigeria.
“For some of us that have gone round the world will know, more people are being killed in some developed countries everyday than the total amount of people killed in Nigeria in one month or two months,” he said.
The royal fathers have called for a collective approach to confront the monster of insecurity if they should continue as leaders of their people.
“What happened in Plateau yesterday, and within the week, over 100 people were killed. It’s very bad because people appear from somewhere, kill you and they are never arrested.
“Before them, people were killed in Sokoto on Sallah day, killed in Kebbi, as so many other places. If you put together the total number of people killed in the country in the last one month it is so high,” the sultan said.
Meanwhile, he urged Nigerians to avoid profiling criminals or criminality to a particular tribe, religion or ethnicity, noting that in every tribe or religion, there are good and bad eggs. “So, let’s not look at some people and say they are the cause of our problems.”
The meeting was titled, “Enhanced Security as Panacea for Stability and Development of the North”, was declared open by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, who was represented by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum.
Empower youths to curb radicalisation – Zulum
Governor Zulum while speaking has called on all stakeholders to focus more on providing opportunities for the youth in Northern Nigeria to engage their minds so that they do not constitute nuisance.
The Governor said, “Our youth population is large, energetic and eager to contribute, but many are without opportunities. This vacuum is dangerous. We must invest heavily in skills acquisition, vocational education, digital innovation and entrepreneurship.
“Empowered youths are not only less vulnerable to crime or radicalisation, they become active agents of development,” he said.
Zullum further stated that agriculture has remained the economic lifeline for the North, hence deliberate effort is needed to enhance farming activities across the region.
Last week Tuesday, at the end of an expanded security council meeting with stakeholders in Maiduguri, Governor Zulum said the state is losing ground to Boko Haram terrorists due to renewed Boko Haram attacks.
He said the terrorists had so far dislodged military formations in Wulgo, Sabon Gari, Wajirko, Izge among others, stressing that the state is at risk of returning to turmoil.
Sustainable security can only be achieved through whole-of-society approach – IGP
In his remarks, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, said sustainable security can only be achieved through a whole of society approach, where security agencies, traditional rulers, government bodies and citizens work hand-in-hand for the common goal.
The IGP, who was represented by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 15, Kenechikwu Onwuemelie, assured the royal fathers of his unwavering dedication to continue partnering while pledging his full support of the Nigeria Police Force in safeguarding communities and advancing the development of Northern Nigeria.