Gov Bala Advocates Establishment Of Additional Military Brigades In Bauchi

Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has called for the establishment of military brigades in some strategic security-prone areas of Bauchi State to forestall insecurity that could create upheavals and wanton destruction of innocent lives and property.

He made the call yesterday during a State Security Council meeting in Bauchi.
The governor revealed that he wants the military brigades to be established in Tafawa/Bogoro axis, Alkaleri and Katagum Local Government Areas of the state.

He explained that the establishment of well-motivated brigades in those earmarked areas would help the police in their duties, attributable to increasing demographics and population, as well as the establishment of more police stations in areas where they do not have them.

According to the governor, he had discussed these issues with the General Officer Commanding 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Maxwell Dangana, when he visited Bauchi Government House for a courtesy visit.

Mohammed reiterated his government’s readiness to collaborate with the security agencies with little money, and with community and public-spirited individuals, as well as with the help of Emirate Councils, to build the police stations with them.

The governor, who described security as the foundation upon which development rests, said, “We do not just give verbal support.

We match our support with concrete action. We will continue to provide the necessary logistical backing to the security agencies.”

He assured of the provision of operational support while improving the infrastructure needed to ensure that security personnel operate under dignified conditions.

“In addition to the support we have consistently given, we are going to establish and engender collaboration.

“I think you should also leverage on that so that you can provide comfort to our men that are really exposed to the vagaries of the forest and criminality.

“We are calling on the Commissioner of Police and the Police High Command and also the military as they are expanding their services.”

Mohammed also called on security agencies to intensify coordinated operations across the state to curb the resurgence of kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes in several frontline local government areas.

He expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in parts of the state, warning that criminal elements displaced from neighbouring states were attempting to establish new bases in Bauchi.

The governor directed security agencies to sustain the momentum of ongoing security operations and replicate the recent successes recorded in Alkaleri, Ningi, Ganjuwa, Toro and other affected local government areas.

He called for increased joint patrols, improved intelligence gathering and stronger surveillance of forests, rural markets and border communities to deny criminals freedom of movement.

He charged traditional rulers to play more active roles in intelligence gathering, warning that any traditional ruler found allocating land to criminal elements, granting illegal mining access or harbouring suspected criminals would face the full weight of the law.

“Silence in the face of crime amounts to complicity and will not be tolerated,” the governor warned.

Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to security, Governor Mohammed said the state government would continue to provide logistics, operational support and critical infrastructure to security agencies to enhance their effectiveness.

He disclosed that the government had invested in modern surveillance and tracking equipment to improve intelligence gathering and monitoring operations.

He also reminded council members that the state would witness heightened political activities with the lifting of a ban on electioneering campaigns for the 2027 general elections, as state local government elections would also hold on August 17.

Prior to that, the governor revealed that the state is also hosting the annual democracy dialogue of the former President Goodluck Jonathan Foundation on the 11th, and the APM national convention in Bauchi.