BANDITRY: THAT AHMED ALIYU 'S STRIDE OF COMPASSION
BANDITRY: THAT AHMED ALIYU 'S STRIDE OF COMPASSION
By Aminu Binji
The recent rather startling disclosure by a governor of a core north state being rough-handled by bandits and kidnappers has further shed more light on the procedural limitations of state governors in tackling the menace of banditry and kidnapping in the subregion and the country as a whole.
The rise and growth of banditry and kidnapping have dealt serious and unimaginable damage to the geographical, social, economic and political configurations of the core north states that still remain in the climate of insecurity created by the menace.
Insecurity is a terrible drawback in the scheme of things when it comes to matters of national development.
From the moment he assumed office as the governor of the state, Ahmed Aliyu has not left anybody in doubt as to his unflappable resolve to put him his best in squaring up to nagging existence of banditry.
It remains clear to some reasonable extent that the hands of state governors are sort of tied when it relates to situations of dealing with insecurity, of course for obvious reasons.
Provision of adequate logistics, regular payment of allowances to military and other security personnel statationed at various banditry flash points, creation of the SSCGC (Sokoto State Community Guards Corps ) and many of such interventions have unarguably proved to the world how committed he is to confronting the sad situation.
It would be recalled how within the first one hundred days in office dozens of operational vehicles were provided to various security formations in the state as a booster to their capacities in measuring up to the heinous activities of bandits and other miscreants in the state.
Such interventions are never relaxed as they continue to be exerted as and when they matter.
The construction of one hundred housing units in Illela for those displaced as a fallout of banditry is another noble stride. There's no person in his stable frame of mind will like to see innocent people being displaced and traumatised by bandits, what more of a governor elected by his people.
It’s sad how some people resort to gutter politicking when discussing about insecurity. Some days ago, Ahmed Aliyu in company of the Sarkin Yamman Sokoto went round the state to directly interact and emphatize with the victims of banditry.
There's something rather unique and particular about the sympathy visits...a testament to the governor's genuine compassion and concern to the overall wellbeing of his people.
At Wurno, just like other points of the visits , Ahmed Aliyu rendered rather a moving prayer to almighty God to come to our rescue by subduing and eradicating bandits and banditry.
Families of the victims of banditry in each local government area visited were supported with foodstuffs and monetary interventions.
it was not meant to compensate them but rather as a solid illustration of the governor's concern.
Wherever the governor visited with the interventions, were the beneficiaries and the other people were evidently happy, because as it were ,the lofty interventions were not what they expected.
The sympathy visits were visits of goodwill, encouragement, solidarity and hope for the people. In some places, governors merely send their representatives on such visits, but to further buttress his high rating for the wellbeing of his people he chose to undertake the visits himself.
It’s interesting to note that, the visits swept those in the opposition camp off their feet because the visits came to everybody as a surprise.
It was on one of such visits that the governor categorically spoke about informants and their horrible activities, highlighting that they would no more have space in our communities.
The truth is, Ahmed Aliyu has done his part and is doing his part in efforts to arrest and mitigate the tide of banditry in the state.
Aminu Binji Contributes from the Desk of Sokoto Liberal Democrats Media Foundation (SOLID)
