Gombe State has convened its second Security Summit, themed “Building a Safer and More Secure Gombe State: Addressing Insecurity through Collective Action.”
The summit reaffirms the state government’s commitment to peace, security, and sustainable development within Gombe and the broader North-East region.
Building on the successes of the inaugural summit held in August 2022, this year’s gathering brings together key stakeholders to assess security challenges and propose actionable solutions.
The summit aims to produce concrete recommendations and strategies to enhance security coordination while fostering stronger partnerships between the government, security agencies, and local communities for effective crime prevention and control.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya stressed that the summit serves as a platform for developing a sustainable peace blueprint that addresses the root causes of insecurity.
He also announced the establishment of a working group to oversee the implementation of resolutions from the summit.
“The nexus between security, peace, and development is the foundation upon which we must build our collective efforts. In Gombe State, we have always recognized that the safety and well-being of our people are a top priority,” the Governor stated.
Despite being one of the more stable states in the North-East, Gombe faces security challenges such as spillover effects from neighboring states, communal clashes, farmer-herder conflicts, cattle rustling, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.
Consequently, the Governor called for collective action, urging security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organizations, and the private sector to collaborate in tackling the threats.
Governor Yahaya highlighted his administration’s three-pronged approach, Defence, Development, and Dialogue, as the foundation for tackling insecurity:
“Our commitment to proactive engagement and conflict prevention ensures that Gombe remains a safe haven for its residents and a model for others to emulate.”
He acknowledged the critical role of security agencies—including the Police, Military, DSS, Civil Defence, and NDLEA—in maintaining peace and stability. To further bolster their capacity, the Governor donated 50 operational vehicles to security agencies operating within the state.
“This donation underscores our unwavering commitment to equipping our security agencies with the resources needed to protect our communities. I urge them to put these vehicles to good use in safeguarding lives and property.”
The Gombe State Security Summit is expected to lay the groundwork for enhanced security coordination, fostering long-term peace and development across the region.
In a goodwill message, the General Officer Commanding, 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and Commander of Operation Safe Haven, Major General Eyitayo Onyilola, emphasized the need for modern technology in monitoring and governing areas beyond human reach.
He highlighted that this could be achieved through intelligence gathering, surveillance, and crime prevention while urging stakeholders to embrace collaboration. According to him, the summit provided a platform to forge partnerships, share best practices, and build networks to strengthen collective security efforts.
Major General Onyilola called on security agencies to set aside rivalry and focus on securing the state, emphasizing their shared responsibility in creating a safer and more secure environment. He stressed the importance of developing strategic frameworks that address the socio-economic, communal, and law enforcement dimensions of security.
He also underscored the indispensable role of community participation in fostering security by building trust and cooperation between communities and security agencies to establish a vigilant system.
Furthermore, Onyilola advocated for extending collaborative security efforts beyond the borders of Gombe State, noting that insecurity knows no boundaries.
He urged regional cooperation with neighboring states to mitigate cross-border threats.
The summit featured presentations, including a paper by General Abdulrasheed Aliyu (retired) on “The Role of Technology and Intelligence in Combating Security Challenges,” and another by AIG Zubairu Mu’azu (retired) on “The Role of Community Policing in Enhancing Local Security: A Case Study of Northern Nigeria.”
These discussions aimed to equip participants with the knowledge and frameworks necessary to brainstorm and devise robust security strategies for a safer Gombe, a more secure North-East, and a peaceful Nigeria.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Col. Abdullahi Bello (retired), described the second Gombe State Security Summit as a significant milestone in Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s ongoing efforts to strengthen security and stability in the state.
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