Insecurity is Getting Out of Hand – Governor Yahaya

…Says, “I sleep with my two eyes open”

BY ADEYEMI AKANJI – Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, has said that the spate of insecurity in the country is getting out of hands.

He said that as a result, it has been a long time he slept with his two eyes closed due to the security challenges.

The Governor therefore advocated that the only way to get out of situation is sustained capacity building in intelligence gathering, surveillance in combating emerging threats.

Yahaya, who stated these while speaking at the closing ceremony of the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) Course, Batch 6 at the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), situated at the Lower Usman Dam, Abuja, said; “we must safeguard our cherished peace and stability.

He continued; “I am here not only at the prompting of the invitation I got alone, but also as a leader from the sub-region that is facing the greatest challenges of our time in terms of insecurity.

“If I tell you that I sleep with my  two eyes closed as a Governor, I think I must be joking because the security situation in the North East is so disturbing and worrisome that it needs a concerted effort and cooperation of all stakeholders – from the administrators to the operatives, so as to move forward and close the gaps,” he said.

Yahaya, who was the special guest of honour, lamented the security situation in the country and advised that the challenges must be taken within the broader context of insecurity in the Sahel, sub-Saharan Africa and the entire globe vice versa the proliferation of weapons in conflict areas like Libya and Mali among other troubled spots in Africa.

The governor further said; “As you may be aware, we share boundary and long standing relationships with all the five other states in the North East. Yes Gombe is not a frontline state but because of our centrality and long standing relationship we have to accommodate those that are able to escape from the insurgency ravaged areas.

“We are a small state of about 3.5 million in population but because of the insurgency in the region, a lot of people have come to settle with us and put a stress on our hospitals, educational and institutional resources and even the social fabric”.

“We must appreciate the role of the DSS and in particular, we appreciate what the Director, State Service in Gombe is doing. He is doing a commendable job”.

He however said that despite the prevailing security challenges rocking the North East sub-region, Gombe State remains largely peaceful.

According to Yahaya; “In Gombe, we adopted a bottom up security model starting from the community and ward units up to the state level, carrying all relevant stakeholders like traditional rulers, religious and community leaders along”.

He congratulated the participants for successfully passing through the rigors of training and called on the Federal Government to invest more in training, funding and equipping of the nation’s security forces to better prepare them for any eventuality.

Earlier, the Director General, State Service, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, who was represented by the Director, Economic Intelligence of the Service,  Dr. Olufunke Amos charged the course participants to put in practice the knowledge acquired during the training.

In his remarks, the commandant of the institute, Alhaji A.S. Adeleke appreciated Governor Yahaya’s disposition towards ensuring peace and security, not only in Gombe state but the North East and the country at large.

The Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Ihab Awad, who also graced the occasion commended the Institute, saying “what I have seen today is nothing short of excellence”.

During the event, Governor Yahaya also participated in symbolic pistol marksmanship and also received NISS’ award of honour.