Matawalle Returns to Sokoto, Intensifies Fight Against Banditry and Kidnapping

Matawalle Returns to Sokoto, Intensifies Fight Against Banditry and Kidnapping

The Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, MON, has returned to Sokoto for the second time in two months, intensifying efforts to combat the rising threats of banditry and kidnapping in the region. The visit, mandated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, highlights the federal government’s determination to restore peace and security to Nigeria’s troubled Northwest.

Matawalle’s visit comes as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen military operations and enhance the fight against criminal elements destabilizing the region. Speaking to the press, the Minister expressed the government’s unwavering commitment to tackling insecurity.

“I am here on the directive of Mr. President to assure the people of Sokoto and the entire Northwest that we will not rest until this menace is eradicated. We are fully committed to winning this war against bandits and their collaborators,” Matawalle stated.

During his address, the Minister praised the military’s success in Operation “Fansan Yamma,” the latest in a series of offensives aimed at dismantling criminal networks in the region. Matawalle expressed confidence that the continued efforts of Nigeria’s security forces would yield further success in the coming weeks.

He also emphasized the importance of political unity in the fight against insecurity, calling on leaders across all political divides to support President Tinubu’s efforts. “We must come together as one. This is not just a federal government fight; it requires the cooperation of everyone. We will continue to boost the morale of our soldiers and security agencies to ensure lasting peace in this region,” Matawalle urged.

The Minister issued a stern warning to bandits and their supporters, vowing that the government would not back down. “We will not allow these criminals to terrorize our people any longer. We will keep the pressure on them until they have no place to hide. No amount of blackmail will shake our resolve,” he said.

Dr. Matawalle’s return to Sokoto marks a critical step in the government’s broader strategy to rid the region of criminal activities. His visit reinforces the administration’s resolve to confront the security challenges head-on, ensuring the safety and well-being of Nigerians in affected areas.

 

 

By Tech and Biz News Staff Reporter

 

Tambuwal: Funding Army, Other Security Agencies Shouldn’t Wait On Appropriations

Tambuwal: Funding Army, Other Security Agencies Shouldn’t Wait On Appropriations

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto has advocated that a special provision should be made constitutionally to increase funding for the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in the country.

Gov. Tambuwal, who along with his Zamfara state counterpart, Bello Muhammad Mutawalle, was a special guest at the Nigerian Army Special Army Super Camp 4 at Faskari, Katsina state, also urges that the military be availed with sophisticated weapons.

“There is need for proper and structured funding of the army and other security agencies in the country to enable them procure superior weapons to that of their adversaries,. You need funding. Funding is key to combating insecurity in any country.

“There should be a special security funding not only that derived from routine appropriations,” the governor noted emphasizing that: “any constitutional means of getting funding for the army and other security agencies” should be explored.

Commending President Muhammadu Buhari for directing the effort to establish the Army Super Camp, Gov. Tambuwal, further noted that if more equipment could be marshalled for the Army, more resounding successes will be achieved.

He also gave kudos to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai for doing a great deal in ensuring that the operations of the Camp is seamless and “Sokoto has recorded more peace, which is an opposite of the weeks preceding the operation of Ex Sahel Safety.

He explained that now farmers and villagers who left their farms when banditry was raging are now back. The South-Eastern part of the state, the governor submitted, “is witnessing a return to normalcy.”

On the efforts made by the Northern Governors to complement those of the security agencies, the governor said agreed to pursue carrot and stick approach. “We in Sokoto state are still continuing with the non-kinetic measure. No matter how long it takes in a battle, you must come back to the round table. So, why wait until issues escalate?

“The kinetic and non-kinetic process are simultaneously going on in Sokoto,” he explained, adding that the state government has completed the reform of the obsolete laws, while the other Northern Governors are trying theirs to punish kidnappers and other perpetrators of crimes associated with banditry.

Muhammad Bello

Special Adviser Media and Publicity to the Governor

Sokoto