Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has assured Nigerians that the security challenges confronting the country will soon be brought under control.
Matawalle gave the assurance in Kano State during a condolence and assessment visit to the Government House following the August 29 bandit attack on Chiroma village in Garun Mallam Local Government Area.
The minister said the Federal Government was determined to tackle insecurity through proactive military operations, strategic planning and stronger cooperation with state governments. He also assured the Kano government and residents that President Bola Tinubu’s administration remained committed to defeating insecurity and restoring lasting peace across the country. “The president has constituted a committee to develop a five-year defence and security plan. This will guide our long-term approach to tackling security threats across the country,” Matawalle said.
He disclosed that following the attack, Saka Jimoh, a brigadier general and commander of the 3 Brigade, Kano, led a joint operation involving personnel from the Joint Task Force at the Hawan-Kwano and Kwanar Dangora camps. The operation resulted in the rescue of several kidnapped victims around the Yan-Kifi Bridge and Marabar Kwari areas of Garun Mallam LGA. Matawalle commended the troops for the rescue operation and said the Federal Government would continue to strengthen the operational capacity of the armed forces and other security agencies.
He stressed that tackling insecurity required a collective effort involving all levels of government and society, while urging citizens to provide timely and credible information to security agencies. “We will continue doing everything possible to support our security services to ensure our country is safe. I assure you that soon, insecurity will be a thing of the past, and we will all live in peace and prosperity,” he said.
“It takes the combined effort of local government, state and federal levels to tackle this issue of insecurity. We also need timely and credible information from citizens to security agencies.” The minister also pledged increased Federal Government support for Kano State, including additional fighting vehicles, weapons and other operational equipment to strengthen security operations.
Matawalle subsequently held a closed-door security meeting with commanders of the 3 Brigade and other security formations in Kano. He urged them to sustain the momentum of ongoing operations and intensify efforts to secure vulnerable communities.
He said the Federal Government would continue to provide the resources and support required to protect lives and property and safeguard the nation’s territorial integrity. Governor Abba Yusuf thanked the minister for the visit and pledged the state government’s continued cooperation with the Federal Government on security matters.
“We are confident in your leadership. At the state level, we will continue to do what needs to be done to ensure security and stability in Kano,” Yusuf said. “We have heard the president’s commitment to security in Nigeria, and we will ensure that the menace of insecurity does not remain in our domain.”
