Former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, has called for collective efforts to tackle the nation’s security challenges. He made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Sokoto, as the world celebrates the New Year.

Bafarawa, a former presidential candidate, said the insecurity problem should not be a government business alone, as all categories of people have roles to play in ending the menace. He explained that “bandits and terrorists at different locations carry out their acts with the connivance of other people in our midst.

“Some play roles as informants, suppliers of fuel, food, motorcycles and other needs to the bandits and we interact with them.

“I am appealing to the government at all levels to implement budgetary allocations on the security sector because it is the backbone of all developments. Without peaceful coexistence, other sectors may not succeed.”

He urged government officials responsible for the implementation of policies to fear Allah and be transparent in their dealings for accelerated development, stressing that poor implementation had been the problem of many programmes.

He condemned the ultimatum given by notorious bandit, Bello Turji, adding that he had started attacking people along the Shinkafi axis of Zamfara. Bafarawa also stressed the importance of empowering young people and giving them leadership opportunities under the mentorship of experienced elders.

He said that himself, along with other like-minded people, came up with a movement tagged, ”Northern Star Youth Empowerment Initiative” to help the younger generation to participate in leadership.

He noted that the initiative was a youth-focused movement designed to address Northern Nigeria’s political and social challenges and people were involved, irrespective of political, religious and ethnic backgrounds.

Bafarawa added: “A large proportion of the nation’s population are youths, mostly idle without requisite education and productive means of livelihoods.

“It is time for Nigerian youths to lead. If given the chance, they will perform better, especially with the guidance of elders.” He also explained that plans were underway to establish offices for the group across the region to foster unity and collaboration among Northern youths.