Governor Uba Sani restated his administration’s commitment in finding lasting solutions to the security challenges bedevilling the state. Photo: Archive/Radio Nigeria
Administrator of Kaduna Capital Territory, Samuel Aruwan, says security challenges in the North-West region require a holistic approach.
He stated this during a town hall meeting on Promoting Peace and Security in the North-West organised by Kukah Centre in collaboration with UK Aid and Global Rights, where he represented Governor Uba Sani.
Mr Aruwan highlighted the region’s many conflict drivers, which include banditry, terrorism, ethnic and religious crises, and farmer-herder conflict.
According to him, the conflict drivers are a threat to food security, education, and rural economic growth.
“If you look critically along the Abuja-Kaduna highway, for over a year now, there has been no record of insecurity. We have intensified Operation Whirl Punch on the ground and in the air along the corridor,” he added.
North-West region in recent years witnessed increasing violence.
Earlier, the Executive Director of Kukah Centre, Father Atta Barkindo, expressed concern that the region has in recent years witnessed increasing violence.
“The northwest region has seven states: Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara, and it covers 26% of the country’s total land mass—close to the size of the UK. According to the 2006 Census, the population was 33 million, and now it is estimated to be 49 million, or around 23% of the total population of the country. About 80% are farmers, pastoralists entrepreneurs. and small-scale”
According to Father Barkindo, to mitigate insecurity, the government must reduce tension between herders and farmers by the implementation of the national livestock plan, promote dialogue, stop illegal mining, and many other measures.
Also, the Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Kaduna state, Idris Adah said safety and wellbeing of citizens were crucial to peaceful coexistence.
Mr Adah maintained that the town hall meeting was a reaffirmation of the unity and commitment needed to build a brighter and secure future in the region.
Reporting by Aminu Dalhatu; Editing by Chinasa Ossai and Annabel Nwachukwu