By Aminu Waziri Tambuwal
It is with gratitude to Almighty God that we receive this important high level delegation of the Federal Government under the leadership of Mr President, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) to Sokoto this very day, who are here to commiserate and condole the government and people of Sokoto state; in particular, the immediate families of those who lost their loved ones. It is indeed gratifying to receive you at this very hour of distress in which we are really emotionally touched.
I am sure you are abreast of the development of that day, Monday, the 6th of December, when a commuter bus conveying about 43 passengers on their way to Kaduna was attacked by bandits. When the bus somersaulted, they continued with the firing until when they got to the fuel tank of the vehicle that went up in flames. Unfortunately, 23 of our beloved brothers and sisters lost their lives. We will continue to pray that Allah (SWT) will grant them Jannatul Firdaus; and, those of them who sustained injuries, be healed completely through His grace. May He continue to provide succor to the families of those affected. Mr NSA, we are consoled by this visit and concern shown to his citizens by Mr President. We are, indeed, very grateful for this show of love and concern.
As I have said some months ago, our situation in Sokoto state got worsened by the military operations in Zamfara state. The operations took us by surprise. I can tell you, Mr NSA, we the Governors of North-West have been appealing for this operations for the last four years. What we requested was that once the military is ready for the operations, it should be carried out simultaneously in Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto and Niger states where we are having infiltration of these criminals. Unfortunately, Zamfara was isolated and this was what we got by Operation Hadarin Daji, which was carried out without any blocking force around the neighboring states, particularly speaking for Sokoto state.
Also, the timing of the operation, whereby, unfortunately, our security agents do not have enough equipment to move and curtail and contain those that would pander towards Sokoto state, didn’t help. So, the timing and way the operation was carried out left Sokoto very vulnerable.
We are, I must say, the NSA, in a very dire state of distress. Even this afternoon I got information that there was an attack in broad daylight in some parts of Isa local government. Yesterday evening, there were attacks in some parts of Sabon Birni. Kidnapping is still going on in some parts of Tangaza, Illela and several other local government areas of the state. It does appear as if those bandits pursued from Zamfara state have relocated to Sokoto state. This is a very serious call for concern.
I appeal, therefore, to you, and through you, to Mr President, Commander-Chief to deploy more resources to Sokoto state. There is need for more boots on the ground. I am familiar with the situation at the center, but I believe that something can be done, and, that should be done urgently and expeditiously because our situation is getting out of hand.
We, Mr NSA, as I have said before, need to do more on the deployment of technology in this fight. This is not a normal fight. You know more than I do. So, we need more of technology than even the personnel, although we need both. But, we need more of technology deployment. So, NSA, we believe that it is time for Mr President, as he is being called upon, to consider recalling those retired personnel who are on the reserve list, because we know that the number of our personnel is very low; and, there is need for reinforcement. The first port of call should be those on the reserve list. We also need to recruit more personnel because we know our number in Nigeria, over 200 million people. Definitely, the Nigerian state is under-policed. We all know the situation.
We are with Mr President one hundred per cent as Governors of this country in taking every measure required to ensure that we nip this in the bud. Here in Sokoto state, you can verify this from the heads of security agencies. There is nothing they have asked of us that we have not done. Absolutely nothing. Since the commencement of this administration, we have given security personnel in Sokoto state not less than 500 vehicles. We are also doing whatever it takes in terms of funding from our own end despite the lean resources that we have as a state.
I believe there is need for more synergy, personnel and equipment in Sokoto state. So, please, convey this our request to Mr President. We are in a very bad situation in Sokoto state and we need his intervention urgently.
We thank you very much for finding time to be here. May God Almighty continue to strengthen you and Mr President as he continue to pilot the affairs of this country of ours that is really facing very difficult time and challenges.
Thank you very much.
(Being a text of an ex-tempore address by Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state, on Dec. 10, 2021, when a high powered Federal Government delegation led by the National Security Adviser, Gen. Muhammad Babagana Monguno, visited the state to condole him and the people of the state over the dastardly killing of 23 passengers by bandits Dec. 6, 2021 at Gidan Bawa in Sabon Birni local government area of the state.)