How Nassarawa, Zamfara, Borno are tackling insecurity — governor aides

The all-inclusive approach of Gov. Bello Matawalle in addressing insecurity was yielding tremendous result in Zamfara, the state Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs, retired DIG Mamman Tsafe, has said.

Speaking with newsmen at the Annual Lecture and Fourth Investiture of the Institute of Security and Strategic Studies (ISSS) on Saturday in Abuja, Tsafe said that Matawalle “inherited a very turbulent state”.

“That is why he started with negotiations and inclusiveness to ensure that the level of insecurity was reduced.

“He has succeeded tremendously because, hitherto, the area was increasingly becoming inhabitable, but with the deployment of an all-inclusive approach, he has been able to ameliorate the situation,“ the commissioner said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tsafe represented Matawalle at the event where the governor received “Best Governor of collective Security Advocate 2020” award.

Also speaking, Deputy Speaker, Borno House of Assembly, Alhaji Abdullahi Askira, who represented Gov. Babagana Zulum, said that courage and confidence had been the governor’s secrets in confronting insecurity in Borno.

Askira said the governor’s approach to security had endeared him to the electorate and citizens of Borno, adding that Zulum had continued to ensure that all internally displaced persons(IDPs) were returned to their ancestral homes.

He urged all Nigerians to support the fight against insecurity in parts of the country, adding that security required collaborative approach.

“One of the governor‘s secret is that he is courageous and when there is courage and confidence you can do almost everything.

“With the people’s support and the governor’s courage and attitude towards the people, he has been able to achieve a lot in security, and the electorates and Borno citizens have been with him.
“The security situation in Nigeria is not an individual, sectional, religious or ethnic problem, it is a collective security problem, and all hands must be on deck for us to succeed.
“I believe that if we come together and fight insecurity collectively, we will succeed,” he said.
Askira further disclosed that the humanitarian crisis in Borno had different dimensions.
He explained that while some people benefit from it, the majority were losing, adding that it had produced thousands of orphans, widows and homeless people.
He said the governor had tried his best to ensure that the IDPs went back to their ancestral homes.
“As of now, I think maybe it is one local government that the IDPs have not returned to their ancestral homes.
“Even up till now, there are pockets of wars in some parts that there are no inhabitants but the governor has assured us that by the end of this month, IDP camps will be closed in Borno.
“With all the necessary arrangements, IDP camps are closing in Maiduguri by end of this month,” he said.
Also, Yakubu Lamai, Director General, Strategic Communications to Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, said that the state used a corporate approach to handle its security challenges.
Lamai said the governor started with a blueprint called Economic Development Strategy to secure investment, using security, peace building, fence mending and human capacity development.
“That is why in Nasarawa State today, there is a clear success in security because his approach had been one that is well informed and built on intelligence gathering.
“Even in his first month as governor, he went over to Benue State on peace mission where he met with the governor to see if we can strengthen the enabling relationship and he has done same across states in the North Central zone.
“That is why Nasarawa held the mediation meeting between Tiv and Jukun people at a point.
“Also, there has been very robust synergy with the Federal Government,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ISSS inducted the three governors into the fellowship of the institute and honoured them for their outstanding contributions to national security.
While Zulum was awarded the best governor on Security and Humanitarian Sservices for 2020, Sule was awarded the Security Pro-active, and Matawalle, the Best Governor of collective Security Advocate.