The Sokoto State Government has urged political actors and other stakeholders to unite in the fight against insecurity, warning against politicising the security challenges confronting the state.
The state’s Special Adviser on Security Matters, Col. Ahmed Usman (rtd.), gave the advice while responding to concerns raised by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, over an alleged threat against residents of Kebbe Local Government Area.
Usman said the government was taking the reported threat seriously, adding that security agencies were working with the state government, traditional institutions and local communities to assess the situation and prevent any attack.
He urged residents of Kebbe to remain calm and vigilant while promptly reporting suspicious activities to security agencies.
According to him, insecurity did not start with the present administration, noting that the challenge had taken root during the previous administration.
He said Dan’iya, who served as deputy governor under the previous administration, was in a position to appreciate the difference in the approaches adopted by the two administrations in supporting security agencies and responding to emerging threats.
The security adviser said the administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu had made significant investments in security and continued to provide security agencies with logistics and other operational support.
Usman stressed that insecurity was a complex challenge that could not be tackled by government alone, saying the Federal Government, state government, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders and residents all had roles to play.
He cautioned political actors against turning security into a partisan issue, saying criminal elements did not discriminate among political parties when attacking communities.
“By the time we politicise security, we risk losing sight of the real objective, which is to protect human lives and restore peace to affected communities,” he said.
He called on political parties and their supporters to prioritise cooperation, intelligence sharing and practical solutions rather than exchanging accusations that could heighten fear among residents.
He assured residents that the government would continue to strengthen intelligence gathering, support security agencies and deepen engagement with communities to prevent attacks and protect lives and property.
