Urging both the federal and State governments to urgently re-strategize and take decisive measures to shield civilians from the heavily armed gangs operating with apparent impunity in the area around vulnerable communities, the protesters expressed deep concern over what they described as the persistent insecurity confronting the area.
They lamented that sustained waves of attacks from bandits and other criminal gangs have created an atmosphere of fear, particularly among farmers, traders and rural dwellers whose livelihoods depend largely on unrestricted access to farms, markets and other economic activities.
According to the protesters, deployment of more security personnel and operational assets to vulnerable communities have become expedient, insisting that relevant security agencies must intensify patrols, surveillance and intelligence-led operations to prevent further attacks on the communities
While urging stronger collaboration among the military, police and other security agencies to track down criminal elements responsible for the attacks and restore confidence among residents, the protesters said the situation had assumed a disturbing dimension capable of undermining agricultural production and forcing residents to abandon their communities and farmlands for safer locations.
However, amid mounting panic over the disturbing security threats, the Sokoto State Police Command has moved swiftly to calm a shaken public, declaring that security forces have firmly locked down the affected area in their resolve to secure lives and property of residents.
As part of measures to address the volatile situation, State Police Spokesperson and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ahmad Rufai said tactical operatives are actively monitoring the ground and deploying aggressive counter-measures to safeguard lives, secure property, and restore order.
Meanwhile, as escalating violence and rising tensions continue to grip the volatile North-West region, local leaders, security experts and stakeholders are demanding an immediate boost to localized intelligence gathering, deeper community-driven policing, major overhaul of defensive strategies, and seamlessly coordinated joint military operations.
The argument is that without these swift interventions, the strategic town of Tambuwal and its surrounding frontier communities risk collapsing into vulnerable and highly exposed soft targets for heavily armed criminal syndicates.
