Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a full-scale state of emergency in all areas where terrorists have been known to be occupying or operating in the country.
The governor made the call when he met with the President on Monday evening in Abuja, according to a statement issued by Muhammad Bello, Special Adviser Media and Publicity to the Governor.
Tambmual during the 30-minute meeting told the president that such a declaration would enable the Armed Forces to carry out their operations without let or hindrance in all enclaves affected by the declaration.
The call for a declaration of a state of emergency comes a renewed fight by Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa fighters in Nigeria’s northwest, which has left scores dead or kidnapped. Last week, a busload of passengers in Sokoto was set ablaze by the Islamist, who also attacked a Mosque in Tungan Ba’are, Mashegu, local Government of Niger State, killing about 19 worshippers.
Elsewhere in the country, scores of Nigerians have been killed or kidnapped by the ravaging bandits and armed gangs, who operate on the highway, farming communities, and even in cities, maiming and kidnapping for ransom.
At least 3,125 people were killed and 2,703 abducted by bandits in northern Nigeria in the last 11 months, The Punch newspaper reported in its lead story on Tuesday.
The newspaper said it sourced the figures from the Nigeria Security Tracker, a project of the Council on Foreign Relations, an American think tank as well as quarterly reports released by the Kaduna State Government from January to September.
According to Tambuwal, the proposed operations by the military, once conceived and ready for execution, “should be carried out simultaneously in the states where the terrorists have strongholds, such as Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Niger, and Kebbi; as well as elsewhere, where the criminals have hideouts,” the governor was quoted as telling the president.
The governor also called on the President to give a premium to the deployment of more manpower to all beleaguered areas just as he advocated for the procurement of sophisticated equipment, particularly, modern technology- which use is now centered around the deployment of drones globally.
He also appealed to the President, to consider popular opinions suggesting the recall of retired personnel for engagement in the war against terrorists and the recruitment of more personnel in all the security services, according to the statement.
In view of the security situation in the Sahel, which has escalated tension in the sub-region, the need to ask the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to seek extensive cooperation with the United Kingdom, France, and the United States of America on security issues was also suggested by the Governor, the statement added.
