Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has again appealed for a North-West Theatre Command to enable a holistic approach to counter-insurgency operations across the affected states.

El-Rufai said the proposed Theatre Command will enhance the “coordination of the resources of the Armed Forces, the police, the SSS, our respective State Vigilance Services, hunters, and other local volunteers to fight the insurgents.”

The governor said this at the presentation of the state’s security reports for the second and third quarters of 2022 in Kaduna on Friday.

He stated that the insurgency in the North-West was not only more serious than what exists now in the North-East, warning that it “presents a clear danger to the holding of the 2023 elections and census if not nipped in the bud now.”

Justifying the presentation of the security reports, Governor El-Rufai noted: “We publish these reports in fulfilment of our obligation to the residents of this state.

“Citizens have legitimate expectations to be provided with consistently accurate accounts of what is going on and to be updated on the measures being taken to address the security challenge.”

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The governor, who lamented that the security reports showed that killings, kidnappings, injuries, and threats to the livelihoods have continued, prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed, and paid tribute to the victims of various crimes.

El-Rufai, however, stated that “figures show a pattern of reductions in the gravity of security incidents in the second and third quarters of 2022, compared to the first quarter.”

“This is a consequence of the intensification of offensive security operations against the bandits in recent months.

“We have for years called for a comprehensive and sustained assertion of the prerogatives of the state, through combined air and ground military and police operations.

“This is the most effective way to protect our people, uphold law and order and enhance the ability of our people to the peaceful pursuit of their livelihoods,” he added.

While thanking the Federal Government for authorising the launch of military and police offensives, Governor El-Rufai stressed that the geopolitical zone “requires a comprehensive and consistent sweep, across the Northwest and Niger states for sustained success.”

He further promised that his administration “will continue to do everything within the powers of a state to enhance security.”

“We have invested considerable resources and energy in managing security to the extent that the constitution permits a subnational.

“Our interventions since 2015 include supporting the federal security agencies deployed in our state with vehicles and other logistics, collaborating with other frontline states to fund military operations in the 2015-2016 period, and investments in security infrastructure and technology,” El-Rufai added.

The Star