Joseph Bakare
President Muhammadu Buhari has described as unfortunate the failure of local leadership in intelligence- gathering as he believes that communities and traditional leaders have the responsibility to monitor closely the activities of people in their domain with a view to assisting law enforcement agencies to secure the communities.
While he expressed the confidence of the capability of security and law enforcement agencies of safeguarding the country, its people and property, the local communities have a significant role to play in security matters, said Buhari.
In response to grave concerns raised by a delegation of Zamfara Advocacy Group on Monday during an audience at the State House, Abuja, the President said the military and the police have been taking drastic measures to check the activities of some local elements threatening the peace of the communities, including preventing farmers from going to their farms.
“I assure you, I get daily reports from people in the field and traditional rulers. I also meet regularly with the leadership of the security agencies, and they have been directed to deploy their personnel to secure the society,” President Buhari said.
Commending the new governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, for being proactive in addressing the security challenges, the President urged royal fathers to go back to their cultural roles.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Usman Balarabe, while congratulating President Buhari on his re-election, said the “situation in Zamfara remains dire,” citing increased attacks, deaths, injuries and displacements.
According to him, “We are here because we believe Mr President and his administration can put in place solid measures to bring about peace and security, and also mitigate the endemic poverty that has made this region one of the poorest in the world…”
The delegation, which also included the wife of the governor of Kaduna State, Asia Mohammed Ahmed, and renowned journalist, Kadaria Ahmed, called for greater collaboration among stakeholders; securing the borders; and permanently situating a major military presence in the State, among other suggestions.