The Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has called for an improved security architecture as the current regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), would come to an end on May 29.
The governor particularly called for a sustained simultaneous ground and air kinetic actions of security agencies across the seven frontline states of the North-West zone and Niger which had continuous forest ranges and were mostly impacted by security challenge.
Speaking on the security report presented by the State Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, the governor noted that the report on the security situation in the state presented detailed data on the persistent security challenges in the state.
The reviewed 2022 Annual and First Quarter 2023 Security Report indicated that, 1,266 and 4,973 persons were killed and kidnapped respectively in 15 months.
The governor said,
“These reports are published in fulfilment of the obligation of transparency that the government owes the residents of this state. Just as they have a right to updates on the progress in investments, revenue generation and other happy events, citizens have legitimate expectations to be provided with consistently accurate accounts of what is going on and on the measures being taken to address security challenges.”
El-Rufai added,
“We thank the Federal Government for finally authorising the launch of these combined military and police offensives. We commend the military and security forces for their efforts and sacrifices as they work to uproot the criminals. I wish to stress that in this region, this vital mission requires a comprehensive and consistent sweep, across the North-West and Niger states for sustained success.
“We appeal for an escalation of security operations over the 39 days remaining till the end of the tenure of this administration and beyond so that the change of baton at the federal level does not result in a dangerous lull that criminal outlaws can exploit.
“There is every reason to intensify and sustain simultaneous ground and air kinetic actions across the seven frontline states of the North-West region and Niger which have continuous and contiguous forest ranges and are most heavily impacted by this security challenge.
“On our part, the Kaduna State Government will continue to do everything within the powers of a state to enhance security. We have invested considerable resources and energy in managing security to the extent that the constitution of our nation permits a subnational.
“Our interventions since 2015 include supporting the federal security agencies deployed in our state with vehicles and other logistics, collaborating with other frontline states to fund military operations in the 2015-2016 period and investments in security infrastructure and technology.”
The governor, however, expressed gratitude to the security agencies, particularly the Army, Air Force, Navy, Police, Civil Defence, and others for constant collaboration with the state’s Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs in the hard work of securing the state.