…as Sultan of Sokoto Declares, Security Is a Shared Responsibility, We Must Stand United to Defeat Insecurity
By Nkechi Eze
In a resolute affirmation of his administration’s success in restoring peace and order, Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State has declared that no part of the state remains under the control of bandits, insisting that security forces have effectively dealt with the criminal elements and forced them to flee to other regions.
The governor made the assertion while addressing participants at the First Media Security Summit, organised by the Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners Forum (ABMPF) in collaboration with the Kebbi State Government, held on Monday in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital. Themed “Existential Threats and National Security,” the landmark summit drew over a hundred participants, including veteran broadcasters, media professionals, and security experts from across Northern Nigeria.
In his welcome address, Chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Yelwa (Ajiyan Yauri), said the summit came at a critical time when Nigeria faces complex security challenges and global attention on its internal affairs. He explained that the forum had brought together security analysts, traditional and religious leaders, media professionals, and policymakers to deliberate on the insecurity ravaging the country and the North in particular.
According to Yelwa, “We have commenced this summit at a time when even global powers are discussing Nigeria’s internal security challenges. It is time for Nigerians to take responsibility for their narrative and seek sustainable solutions from within.” He added that the outcomes of the summit would be compiled into a communiqué and forwarded to relevant tiers of government for implementation.
He further called on state governments and private sector actors to support northern media organisations through advertising and funding, noting that robust media capacity remains vital for national stability and effective public enlightenment.
Delivering his goodwill message, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, who chaired the occasion, commended the organisers for convening the summit at a time when the nation is in dire need of unity and coordinated action against insecurity.
He dismissed reports suggesting that Nigeria is experiencing genocide against Christians, describing such claims as misleading. “We must understand ourselves and our differences as Muslims and Christians,” he said. “In this country, we have lived peacefully for generations despite our religious differences, sometimes within the same family. We must maintain that spirit of unity.”
The Sultan, who left an official engagement in Abuja to attend the summit, said the issue of security should not be left to government alone. “Security is everybody’s business,” he declared. “We have to do everything humanly possible to fight insurgency and banditry. For us to solve security challenges, we must first sit down to discuss our problems and then come up with solutions. We have so many platforms to discuss our problems and solve them by ourselves.”
He also described the recent abduction of the Kebbi State Deputy Speaker as disturbing, while commending the Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners Forum for creating a platform to seek lasting solutions to insecurity in the region.
In his address, Governor Nasir Idris reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustaining peace and tackling insecurity head-on. He emphasized that Kebbi State had made significant progress in neutralising the activities of criminal elements through robust collaboration with security agencies and sustained logistic support.
“Insecurity is a global phenomenon; no nation is entirely free from it,” the governor stated. “However, in Kebbi State, we have seriously dealt with the bandits. They have been forced to flee, no inch of our land is under their control. We have provided all necessary support to our security agents to ensure the safety of lives and property.”
Governor Idris hailed the summit as timely, urging participants to produce actionable recommendations that could aid government efforts in eliminating banditry and strengthening peace across the state.
The event was graced by eminent personalities, including the Sultan of Sokoto, the Emirs of Argungu and Yauri, Dr. Muhammad Zayyanu, former National Security Adviser General Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd), former INEC Chairman Professor Attahiru Jega, and General Muhammad Magoro (rtd).
Other distinguished speakers included Professor Umar Pate, Ambassador Usman Sarki, Dr. Yahuza Getso, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka (rtd), and Samuel Aruwan, former Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security.
Day one of the summit concluded with a renewed commitment from media practitioners and stakeholders to strengthen public enlightenment, foster interfaith harmony, and support government efforts toward ending banditry and all forms of insecurity in Northern Nigeria.
