* Reiterates commitment to partner govt agencies to resolve insecurity
His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has said that traditional rulers are more concerned with the spate of killings and insecurity in Nigeria than the average politician in the country.
The sultan, who spoke at the Northern Traditional Ruler’s Council 7th Executive Committee Meeting in Maiduguri, on Tuesday, said they have come together as servants of the nation to discuss contentious security issues in a closed-door meeting.
“Our coming together as traditional rulers in the North, I believe we have more than 86 in the North. We will speak with one voice to say ‘enough is enough’ of this senseless killing of innocent people across the North and across the country.
“We have released so many statements of condemnations, but how many times do we need to condemn these killings before our political leaders and security agencies stop or reduce the insecurity in the country to the barest minimum?
“We, the traditional rulers, feel bad and saddened when our people are killed by people we don’t know. It’s high time we worked harder, talk to ourselves and in closed door meeting discuss it. We shall advise our political leaders, they are at the helm of affairs and we will work with them,” he said.
The sultan, who expressed optimism that the insecurity in the North can be resolved, however, said that will be if the political leaders, traditional and religious leaders and citizens alike are sincere and willing to play their parts.
“As traditional rulers, we are not competing with governors of our states, we are only helping them. We will not and will never be in contention with political leadership or governors,” he said.
In the closed-door meeting, the sultan mentioned that they will discuss all the contentions of insecurity in the country and North in particular.
“Since we are here, we will discuss the happenings in Borno. We heard some comments that Boko Haram is returning, and I say Insha Allah (God willing) Almighty Allah will give us the strength and wherewithal to defeat them.
“Also, our coming here is to put a joint statement that we are all brothers to one another, and whatever we shall do, we must do to help our brothers out,” he said.
He called on the people in the region and the country as a whole to have trust in God, citing the insecurity happening around the world.
“Yes, there is insecurity in some parts of the Borno, but there is insecurity everywhere in the world not only in Nigeria.
“For some of us that have gone round the world will know, more people are being killed in some developed countries everyday than the total amount of people killed in Nigeria in one month or two months,” he said.
He, however, noted that killings are happening in different parts of the country and there is need for collective approach to stem the tide of the ‘endless’, merciless’ killings.
“What happened in Plateau yesterday, and within the week, over 100 people were killed. It’s very bad because people appear from somewhere, kill you and they are never arrested.
“Before them, people were killed in Sokoto on Sallah day, killed in Kebbi, as so many other places. If you put together the total number of people killed in the country in the last one month it is so high,” the sultan said.
He also advised people in the region and across the country to avoid profiling criminals or criminality to a particular tribe, religion or ethnicity, noting that in every tribe or religion, there are good and bad eggs. “So, let’s not look at some people and say they are the cause of our problems.”
The meeting, with theme “Enhanced Security As Panacea For Stability and Development of the North”, was declared open by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, who was represented by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum.
Empower youths to curb radicalisation – Zulum
Earlier in his remarks, Governor Zulum called on all stakeholders to focus on providing opportunities for the youth in Northern Nigeria.
“Our youth population is large, energetic and eager to contribute, but many are without opportunities. This vacuum is dangerous. We must invest heavily in skills acquisition, vocational education, digital innovation and entrepreneurship.
“Empowered youths are not only less vulnerable to crime or radicalisation, they become active agents of development,” he said.
Governor Zulum also stressed that agriculture has remained the economic lifeline for the North, hence deliberate effort is needed to enhance farming activities across the region.
Sustainable security can only be achieved through whole-of-society approach – IGP
Also speaking, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, said sustainable security can only be achieved through a whole of society approach, where security agencies, traditional rulers, government bodies and citizens work hand-in-hand for the common goal.
The IGP, represented by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 15, Kenechikwu Onwuemelie, assured the royal highnesses of his unwavering dedication to continued partnerships and pledged the full support of the Nigeria Police Force in safeguarding communities and advancing the development of Northern Nigeria.
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