The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to take stronger measures to address the wave of killings, kidnappings and other attacks across Nigeria.
The call was made through the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), led by the Sultan, following the organisation’s assessment of the country’s worsening security situation.
In a statement signed by JNI Secretary-General, Prof. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, the organisation expressed concern over continued attacks despite ongoing military and security operations across several states.
The JNI called for a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s security architecture, urging security agencies to move beyond mainly responding to attacks and adopt more intelligence-led and preventive strategies.
The organisation also called for stronger support from both the Federal and state governments for security agencies, as well as improved intelligence sharing and coordination among the military, police, Department of State Services and other security bodies.
It further urged authorities to identify and dismantle the camps and supply routes used by bandits and terrorists, including networks involved in the movement of weapons, ammunition, fuel, food and motorcycles.
The Sultan also called for greater protection of vulnerable communities, schools, roads, markets and places of worship, while encouraging the use of community intelligence under appropriate oversight.
The JNI said the continued violence in states including Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Kebbi, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Gombe, Kogi, Benue and Plateau required urgent and coordinated action.
The organisation also expressed concern over the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Niger State while in custody, welcoming the Federal Government’s decision to investigate the incident and suspend officers linked to the case pending the outcome of the inquiry.
The JNI urged the government to ensure that people detained by security agencies are treated lawfully and that adequate systems are put in place to protect those in custody.
It also called for stronger border controls, efforts to disrupt the financing of criminal groups and measures to address the social and economic conditions that can contribute to recruitment into criminal activities.
