Authorities in northwestern Sokoto State have urged residents to remain calm amid reports that notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has acquired advanced weapons and recruited mercenaries to train his fighters.
The state government said security agencies were closely monitoring developments and taking measures to prevent any threat to public safety.
“Security is a continuous process, and as a government, we take every intelligence report seriously,” Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s Special Adviser on Security Matters, retired Colonel Ahmed Usman, told journalists.
“We are working closely with the military, police, intelligence agencies and other security formations to ensure that criminal elements do not have the opportunity to threaten the peace and stability of our state,” he said.
Usman said the government had increased support for security agencies operating in the state through the provision of operational vehicles, motorcycles, communication equipment, fuel and other logistics.
He added that Governor Aliyu had approved additional funding for security operations, intelligence gathering and community-based security initiatives.
According to Usman, criminal groups often rely on propaganda and misinformation to spread fear among residents, but maintained that security forces remained capable of confronting emerging threats.
“While we will never underestimate any threat, we are confident in the capacity and preparedness of our security forces to confront and neutralise criminal elements,” he said.
He called on residents to remain vigilant and continue sharing useful information with security agencies.
“I therefore urge residents to remain calm, vigilant, and law-abiding, while continuing to support security agencies with credible and timely information,” Usman said.
The adviser reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to working with security agencies and other stakeholders to maintain peace and safeguard communities across the state.
