Tambuwal Urges PMB To Mobilize Sahel Leaders On Insecurity

 President Muhammadu Buhari has been called upon to assemble leaders of the Sahel region, inundated by frequent attacks of marauders and insurgents, dry climate, food and water shortages, for a summit on the common challenge of insecurity facing the region.

The region comprises Senegal, Gambia, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria. The remaining are: Cameroon, Chad Central African Republic, South Sudan, Sudan and Eritrea.

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State made the call today in Katsina at the plenary of the multilateral security meeting on border security of Maradi, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara States and Maradi region.

“I urge President Muhammmadu Buhari to rally all leaders of the Sahel region to come together and fight the menace of insecurity that has become intractable in the subregion."

“There is a need for greater collaboration and cooperation  between the leaders of the region to beat back terrorism,” Tambuwal emphasized.

He expressed gratitude to Presidents Mohamed Bazoum of Niger Republic and Muhammadu Buhari for their kind approval to convene the meeting, while applauding  the efforts of the security outfits for their operations 

He also appealed to all citizens in Niger Republic and Nigeria to cooperate with the security operatives in both countries to stem the tide of insecurity.

In his opening remarks, the Governor of Maradi, Chaibou Boubacar, who was also the convener of the meeting, noted that the sub region has been in dire distress this rainy season. “Bandits have made it difficult for locals to farm and move around freely,” he observed, thus the need for the meeting.

“We’ve had so many meetings in the past, but we’re yet to demonstrate unity of purpose to confront the issues of insecurity,” Boubacar observed as he expressed appreciation to all the security agencies for their proactive efforts so far.

Also speaking, Governor Aminu Bello Masari, who hosted the meeting, urged participants to think out of the box and come up with useful suggestions that will help to bring the problem of insecurity to an end.

He said in its efforts to tackle the problem, the State Government has established a 3-tier security structure. “Much is being done. Nonetheless, government must continue to explore more ways.” 

Zamfara State Governor, who his Deputy, Sen. Hassan Muhammad Nasiha, stood in for, said

the “sub region has been battling with insecurity for over a decade. The conflicts has escalated over the states bringing about food shortages, dislocations and other inconveniences.”

He said the State Government has been employing kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to arrest the situation.

Nasiha’s counterpart, Col. Samaila Yombe (rtd), who represented Kebbi State Governor, towed the same line. According to him, communities in the subregion have been devastated and traumatized over the years.

He added that although the security agencies have been working conscientiously to stem the tide of the problem, what is wanting is the unity of purpose to overcome it once and for all.

He, however, expressed confidence that the occasion will fashion out ways and means of confronting and tackling the issues at hand.

At the opening of the meeting, the Special Adviser to Katsina state Governor on security issues, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmad Katsina, commended the initiative for the meeting. 

He said it came at a time when security challenges (banditry, drug trafficking and movement of small and light weapons across the subregion) have become multinational thus requiring multidimensional approaches.

The Emir of Daura, Alhaji Faruk Umar Faruk, other traditional rulers and stakeholders, including security chiefs from Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara States graced the occasion which later went into closed door session.