Sokoto governor calls for closer federal partnership against banditry

Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu has called for stronger cooperation between the Federal Government and state authorities to confront banditry and other forms of criminality affecting parts of Nigeria. Aliyu made the appeal in his Independence Day message to residents of Sokoto State on Thursday, as Nigeria marked its 66th anniversary. He commended the Federal Government’s support for security operations in the state and said continued coordination was necessary to achieve lasting peace.

“There is a strong synergy between the Sokoto State Government and the Federal Government in our collective commitment towards protecting the lives and property of our people,” the governor said. Aliyu said his administration had supplied logistics and equipment to conventional security agencies. According to him, the state had procured more than 200 patrol vehicles, two emirate bulletproof vehicles, 100 Buffalo armoured personnel carriers and 200 motorcycles since he assumed office.

He also listed 3,200 security hardware items, 2,000 bulletproof vests, 200 night-vision goggles and 100 thermal-vision scopes among the equipment provided. He said the government had helped operationalise the Nigerian Air Force Base in Sokoto and upgraded the Department of State Services tracker from 4G to 5G technology. The governor said the Sokoto State Community Guard Corps had also been established, with 40 Hilux vans and 700 motorcycles procured.

Other measures included facilitating a military barracks in Illela and a Police Mobile Barracks at Tara Village in Sabon Birni Local Government Area. Aliyu reassured residents that his administration remained committed to ending banditry and urged them to support efforts to restore peace. He also called on Nigerians to cooperate with and pray for the country’s leaders, while expressing optimism about Nigeria’s continued progress.