Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday, in Bauchi charged governments at all levels to upscale intelligence gathering techniques.
He was reacting to the killing of over 150 persons on Christmas eve in two councils of Plateau State.

Gunmen attacked 15 communities in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi councils of Plateau on Christmas eve, killed scores of persons and destroyed 221 houses. The assailants also destroyed eight vehicles and 27 motorcycles.

Three communities, NTV, Hurum and Darawat were attacked in Barkin-Ladi, where 17 persons were killed.

Communities attacked in Bokkos were Ndun, Ngyong, Murfet, Makundary, Tamiso, Chiang, Tahore, Gawarba, Dares, Meyenga, Darwat and Butura Kampani.
Speaking at the closing of the 80th National Islamic Vacation Course, the sultan said proactive intelligence gathering would help to avert such attacks and killings.
He denounced the fact that bandits were always a step ahead of security operatives wherever they operated.

“A couple of days back, there was this clash in Plateau where over 100 lives were lost. Why do we keep having these clashes? Why do we keep having these deaths caused by ourselves?
“We always condemn such things, but after condemning these activities by bandits and criminals, what are the roles of governments, which are supposed to protect our lives and property?
“Why can’t we be proactive and stop such attacks before they happen? What happened to our intelligence gathering mechanisms,” he asked.”

The sultan also called on Nigerians to charge all leaders at different levels to rise to the occasion, saying things were not right and anything could happen.
He equally charged Nigerians to continue to pray and put pressure on leaders to do the right thing for the country to be a better one for all to live in.

“We call on our leaders to fear God, who will ask you what you did with your leadership here on earth,’’ the sultan added.

In his remarks, Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State appreciated visitors and participants in the programme, who came from the 19 states in the northern part of the country and the FCT.

The governor was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Auwal Jatau.