Heads of Security in North Eastern Nigeria have met in Gombe, where they discussed challenges affecting the region with a view of proffering lasting solutions to the security menace.
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, who declared the conference open, commended the Department of State Security Service for coming up with the initiative.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, Governor Yahaya underscored the importance of the security architecture in the state, North East, and Nigeria in the protection of lives and properties.
He urged them to discuss issues around the protection and Defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from threats, and enemies of Nigeria’s prosperity, while upholding and enforcing the criminal laws of Nigeria, as well as providing leadership and criminal justice services to both tiers of the government.
“From your mandate, all concerned scholars and members of the public appreciate and commend you for carrying out these very essential and necessary services to our people,” Dr. Jatau said.
He said all their efforts should be geared toward identifying the sources of undesirable emerging challenges, such as the issue of minimum wage, increasing poverty and visible hunger in the land, flooding, and cybercrime, among other issues, in addition to their regular menu of banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, farmer/herders clashes and cattle rustling.
The Gombe State Deputy Governor called on Heads of Security in North East Nigeria to make optimum use of the conference and come up with lasting solutions that would mitigate the effects of insecurity in the zone.
He prayed that the decisions to be made at the end of the conference should manifest their organization as relevant, responsive, receptive, resilient, and adaptive which are the features of modern effective organizations.
Dr. Jatau pledged the support of the government as they carry out the mandate of ensuring security in the state while commending the cordial working relations among all the law enforcement agencies in the state.
In his remarks, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi congratulated the Directors of Department of State Security Service in the North East for hosting the conference towards surmounting challenges in the region.
Prof. Njodi said their contributions in the form of commitment and sacrifices being made in the course of protection of lives and properties of the people were notable, pledging that the Gombe State Government would continue to support them to succeed.
Meanwhile, the State Director of Security Service, Gombe State, Mr. Habu Rabiu Sambo, who doubles as the Chairman of the conference, informed the gathering that the meeting was providing a platform for them to get ideas, share experiences of best practices and forge partnership to help them in ensuring the safety of the people.
“The region has been plagued by violence and instability perpetrated by the Islamic State West African Province ( ISWAP), Boko Haram, and other criminal elements. The impact of this insecurity is felt in every aspect of daily life, from access to basic services like Health Care and education to the inability of communities to thrive and prosper,” said Mr. Sambo.
He said one of the key priorities of the conference was to strengthen collaboration between security agencies and relevant stakeholders, through information sharing, resources, and expertise to develop a unified and effective strategy for improving security in the North East Sub Region.
