Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, has shared details of his discussion with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu regarding the state's security challenges.
The governor said President Tinubu assured him that his administration is committed to ending banditry and other criminal activities in Sokoto.
Aliyu highlighted the president's directive for the Minister of Defence and military leaders to relocate to Sokoto as a clear sign of the government's determination to tackle insecurity, not only in Sokoto but across the entire North-West region.
According to reports, Aliyu made these remarks while providing support to the Nigerian Military on Friday to strengthen their efforts in combating banditry in the state.
The governor, who donated 10 vehicles to the army, said:
"When I met Mr President, we extensively discussed the security situation in our dear state, and he assured me of his support towards putting an end to all the security challenges affecting us.
"Mr President has redeemed his pledge by sending the Honourable Minister and service chiefs and Alhamdullahi. We are seeing the results. We thank Mr President most sincerely."
Aliyu additionally stated that the ten patrol vehicles provided to the military were supplementary to the 100 vehicles previously allocated to security agencies for combating banditry within the state.
He reaffirmed his dedication to supporting the security agencies, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in ensuring the safety of the state.
The governor also pledged to allocate the state's resources to ensure the protection of the lives and property of its citizens.
"Security is number 1 in my nine-point agenda; therefore, we would do whatever it takes within the ambit of the law to protect our people," he vowed.
The governor also commended the Minister for State, Defence for his commitment to getting the North-West out of the security quagmire.
"The minister has shown resilience and bravery by penetrating what used to be a 'NO GO AREA' and had even opened up areas that our people hitherto deserted," he averred.
Aliyu appealed to the people of the state to continue to pray for Mr President to succeed in the task of securing the nation.
In his remarks during the event, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mutawalle, said the people of Sokoto State are lucky to have such a Governor.
According to him, the presidential directive that he (Matawalle) and service chiefs should relocate to Sokoto was a result of the intense pressure the governor kept mounting on President Tinubu on the need to come to the rescue of the state.
"Mr. Governor, I want to tell you that because of the seriousness you have shown in addressing the security challenges in the state, Mr President has approved the purchase of CMG vehicles that would be stationed in Sokoto under a new operation code-named 'FANSAR YAMMA', aimed at securing the North-West," he disclosed.
Matawalle reassured his commitment to ensuring a lasting peace in the state.
The minister extolled Aliyu's zeal and commitment to making Sokoto a crime-free state.
"The people of Sokoto are lucky to have Ahmed Aliyu as their leader because he has the state at heart.
"I want to assure the Governor that we would use these vehicles provided to us judiciously to flush out bandits from Sokoto state," he assured.
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