The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, has urged residents of Sokoto State to report any unemployed person living a flamboyant lifestyle to security agents.
Speaking at the Sokoto State Governor’s office, the Minister stated that such individuals, if investigated further, may be informants for the bandits disrupting the state’s peace.
Matawalle, accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, visited Sokoto on the directive of President Bola Tinubu to address the activities of armed bandits terrorizing the northern part of the country, particularly in the North West States.
He called on the state’s residents to continue supporting security agencies by providing vital information to the troops.
He emphasized that security agents rely heavily on information from residents to combat the rising insecurity.
“Like what we did while I was the governor of Zamfara State, I call on the people of Sokoto State to always provide information to the security agents.
If you see someone who isn’t employed but is frequently changing cars and spending money lavishly, please do not hesitate to report such a person. They may be informants for bandits.
We are here to crush the bad elements in our midst, and by the special grace of God, we will succeed,” he added.
Meanwhile, Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State has urged politicians to stop politicizing the issue of insecurity in the state.
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The governor made this statement on Tuesday while receiving the Minister of State for Defence, Muhammad Bello Matawalle, who was accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.
The Minister’s visit to Sokoto was in response to President Bola Tinubu’s directive for the Minister and Defence chiefs to relocate to Sokoto to support the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji in combating banditry.
Aliyu noted that his administration has provided significant support to security agencies since he assumed office as governor.
“I call on our people to stop politicizing the issue of security in the state.
We should refrain from spreading or sharing any false information related to security.
These bad elements do not care whether you are PDP, APC, or APGA. They do not know or care about our religion, which is why we must unite to deal with them.
Let me also take this opportunity to thank President Bola Tinubu for directing you to come to Sokoto State to address the issue of insecurity.”
He highlighted that his administration has taken measures to combat banditry in the state by providing all necessary support to the security agencies.
“This includes operational vehicles and other logistics to facilitate their work.
We have also employed 200 individuals from each of the 23 local governments into the Sokoto Community Guard Corps to complement the security team’s efforts in the state.
As you know, security matters are not for public consumption, but rest assured, Your Excellency, that we are doing a lot.”
“I am confident that with your presence today, the people of the state will sleep soundly, knowing you are a man of your word.”
He further assured that the state government will continue to support security agencies, especially the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji, to ensure they fulfill their responsibility of securing the state.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE