As Nigeria marked 65 years of Independence on Wednesday, Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto state has called for renewed commitment to ending banditry and other forms of criminality hindering the nation’s march to greatness.
The Governor made the call in a statement by his spokesperson, Abubakar Bawa.
He described insecurity as one of the major setbacks to Nigeria’s socio-economic and political development, stressing the need 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,” he said.
Governor Aliyu emphasized the need to eliminate the “informant syndrome” within rural communities, noting that the act is responsible for many abductions taking place in the State.
The Governor highlighted some of the measures taken by his administration to curb insecurity in Sokoto State.
These include the procurement and distribution of over 180 patrol vehicles to security agencies, the establishment of the Sokoto Community Guard Corps supported with 40 Hilux vans and 700 motorcycles, the operationalisation of the Air Force base, and an upward review of monthly allowances for security personnel deployed to volatile areas.
Other efforts include upgrading of the DSS tracking device from 4G to 5G and the construction of a new military base in Illela Local Government Area, among others.
On Nigeria’s 65th anniversary, Governor Aliyu called on all Nigerians to uphold the virtues, patriotism, and honesty of the nation’s 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,” he added.
The Governor also paid tribute to Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, and other nationalists for their selfless service to Nigeria, urging Nigerians to emulate their example.
Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie
