The Directors of State Security in the Northwest are currently holding a three days conference in Kaduna as part of efforts to end the insecurity bedevilling the zone.
Recall the seven Northwest states comprising Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Jigawa and Kaduna have been enmeshed in security breaches over the past decade.
In the past ten years banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, armed conflicts, herders/ Fulani crisis etc have taken centre stage. Piqued by these menaces the Directorate of State Security directed collaboration among the states in the zone since they have the same security challenges.
In his opening remarks, the Chief host and Director, DSS, Kaduna State Command, Mr. Abdul Eneche said with adequate collaboration among all stakeholders, security challenges could be tackled under headlock.
Eneche noted that the zonal conference which was the brainchild of the Director General of State Security Service was intended to hold in the first quarter of this year, but it was shifted to May because of the recently concluded general elections in the country.
He said the three days conference will review insecurity in the region, particularly kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, rustling and other related crimes.
Eneche noted that States in the North West share similar security challenges, and called on the governors in the region to organise similar meetings for effective collaboration against insecurity.
“We remain resolute to ensure that a permanent solution is achieved not only in the States but in the region”. He said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police, Musa Yusuf Garba said, Insecurity has ravaged the seven States in the zone, saying,” unless and until we cooperate we can never achieve our goals”.
Declaring the conference open, Gov Nasiru El-rufai remarked that criminal activities by bandits have threatened both rural and urban communities.
Represented by the commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, noted that “the Bandits have openly tried to crush the rural economy by attacking farmers in their fields and their homes.
“In pursuing these mandates over the last four years, we have witnessed the progressive streamlining of security coordination, the strengthening of inter-agency collaboration, the creation and sustaining of a robust intelligence gathering framework and improved responses to security incidents.
“We have also facilitated consistent and detailed documentation of security incidents and statistics, as well as enhanced communication between government, security agencies and citizenry through updates and publications.
“Here in Kaduna State, especially over the last 18 months, we welcomed the intensification of ground and air action against the bandits, and we are most grateful to the Federal Security Agencies for these operations and the successes recorded.
“Hundreds of bandits have been neutralized and numerous camps destroyed. We acknowledge with appreciation that these achievements were in large part, a result of the close cooperation and support built between the Kaduna State Government and the Department of State Services.
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