• Itodo: Govs not using security votes to address fundamental issues
• Deradicalisation of repentant criminals working well, says CDS Musa
Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, has decried bandits activities in the state, blaming the situation on what he described as political interference. The governor, who spoke during a townhall on Channels Television to mark Nigeria’s 25th Democracy Day yesterday, said precious human lives are being toyed with.
“By name, I am the chief security officer of my state but when it comes to command, I don’t have control over any of the security outfit whether the military, the police or civil defence,” he said.
“They take their instructions from their superiors not from governors. We don’t have that control, I wish we do have, it would have been a different story.”
But Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, lamented the non-use of security votes for the purposes they are meant for. Speaking at the Townhall on Security, Itodo said these funds have not been used by the governors to address fundamental issues.
As Nigeria battles insurgency in the Northeast, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, said the deradicalisation of repentant criminals are working well.
The Operation Safe Corridor is a programme introduced under former President Muhammadu Buhari. It has run for several years and seen no fewer than 4,000 ex-Boko Haram members go through the programme.
Speaking in Abuja, the CDS said the military’s strategy in combating terrorism and other crimes is yielding the positive results.
