Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has expressed concern over the emergence of a splinter group of Boko Haram in the North-Central region.
Sule stated this when he convened an expanded security council meeting, where he raised serious concerns over emerging security threats, especially from neighbouring states.
“As you are aware, this new group of Wulowulo, which is a splinter group of the Boko Haram, is beginning to surface in the North Central zone.
“We need to ensure that we take certain steps not to allow it, at least to come into our state,” he said while presiding over the meeting at the Government House on Monday.
Governor Sule condemned in strong terms the recent violent communal clash traced to a land dispute, which led to the killing of seven people in Nindama village, close to Ninkoro in the Kokona Local Government Area.
He directed the Commissioner of Police, as well as the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), to immediately launch an investigation into the matter, with a view to uncovering the root cause of the clash to be able to nip similar occurrences in the bud.
“Seven people have been killed, with one survivor. Even if it is one person killed, we are very, very worried.
“We need to get to the root of that matter. Investigate the matter in order to nip similar occurrences in the bud once and for all,” he told the security agencies.
Giving reasons for convening the meeting, he said that, in line with the proactiveness of his administration, the expanded security meeting became necessary due to intelligence indicating that criminals from other parts of the country are trying to infiltrate the North Central zone.
“One of the reasons why we invited you here is the fact that the situation of insecurity, especially in other parts of the country, is a big concern, and some of them are beginning to spread into our state. It is very important that we take steps to ensure that does not happen to us.
“The Lakurawa group is now a big problem in Kwara. Originally, they were somewhere around Kebbi and Sokoto States, but now they have become prominent in Kwara.
“Kwara is one of the states in North Central. We should be concerned that it does not extend all the way to Nasarawa State,” he stated.
The Governor also expressed concern over the persistent kidnapping cases in the state, which have now become more prominent in Lafia and parts of the Karu Local Government Area.
He admitted that previous strategies have not been sufficient to curb the menace and called for a new formula to tackle it.
“Kidnapping has remained constant, especially in Lafia Local Government. It has moved from other places and become more prominent in Lafia and parts of Karu Local Government.
“That is the reason why I believe very strongly that whatever we have done in the past may not be enough. We need to find another formula around it,” he said.
While commending the Nigeria Police Force for deploying 120 additional officers to beef up security, he urged all security agencies to step up their activities in order not to allow such criminals and criminality to infiltrate into the state.
He also praised the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the state for its door-to-door operations against drug cartels but asked for more arrests.
According to Governor Sule, while the security agencies are battling to curb insecurity, they must not yield to pressure from influential individuals seeking the release of arrested suspects, particularly drug kingpins.
He further appealed to the citizens not to rush to bail their children and wards found wanting, but to allow them to test the consequences of their actions, which would serve as a deterrent.
Governor Sule also appreciated traditional rulers and local government chairmen for their roles in maintaining peace.
“Every time we had the opportunity to attend these kinds of meetings it is because we are concerned about the welfare and security of our people in the state. Once we have issues that come up, we usually invite you.
“We thank you sincerely for turning up. We also thank our royal fathers and the chairmen of the local government councils for joining us at this expanded security council meeting,” he added.