From Shafa’atu Suleiman, Sokoto

The governor made the affirmation during a security summit organized by the Movement for Social Justice in collaboration with the Sokoto state government with a theme ‘Accountability and Transparency of State Actors in Security management.

Governor Aliyu said it was  a well known fact that Nigeria is facing a lot of security challenges hindering its economic, political and social growth, among which is insecurity which has leads to the increase in crime and criminality.

He said that there was  no part of the country that is not faced with one security challenge or the other, adding that every region has its own peculiar security challenges.

As banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling disturbed the North West states including Sokoto, especially the Eastern part of the state, Aliyu said upon his resumption in office his administration has taken drastic measures to change the terrible situation through collaboration with conventional security agencies .

“Prior to our coming, there are numbers of communities that are under the control of bandits who dictate to the locals on what to do”.

The governor said his administration has taken measures to addressing insecurity in the state including the restoration of security allowance which the previous administration owed security personnel, purchase and distribution of over 140 Buffalo and Hilux vans to security agencies in the state for effective surveillance.

“ We have also provided adequate numbers of motorcycles to the Department  of State Service (DSS)for improved information gathering, sharing and surveillance.For effective and judicious performance of DSS in the state, we have also awarded a project for the upgrading to their tracker equipment from 2G and 3G to 5G”

According to the governor, the establishment of the Sokoto State Security Guard Corps to complement the effort of conventional security has helped in improving the security status of the state.

Aliyu said that his administration  has  equipped the corp with Hilux vans and 700 motorcycles, built offices for the corp in all the 13 local governments that are hitted most by insecurity as well as providing them with all necessary working materials for efficient operations.

He said the government has ensured the full operation of the Sokoto state Air Force Base by providing the facility with hangers and other necessary logistics support to ensure effective air surveillance and raise of all bandits dens.

He said his government is very prompt and active in attending to the needs of security agencies whenever it arise.

Aliyu reaffirmed that his administration is committed to spend the last kobo in the state account to safeguard and protect the state .