Over the years, insecurity has been a major challenge to the nation. On daily basis, the nation’s media space is awash with news of kidnappings, banditry and farmers-herders clashes.
In the northeast and northwest in particular, bandits have wreaked havoc as they attack communities and kidnap both young and old. They have made swaths of many states in the worst hit areas virtually ungovernable.
Many people have blamed the food insecurity in the country partly on bandits as farmers hardly go to farm because of fear of being kidnapped or attacked.
The political authorities in the north have been vocal about the failure of traditional institutions to effectively play their roles in combating the challenge.
For instance the North-East Governors’ Forum in held in Maiduguri September raised concern over the involment of traditional rulers in insecurity in the area.
In a communiqué signed by its chairman, Prof. Babagana Zulum of Borno, the governors promised to deal decisively with traditional rulers collaborating with bandits.
“The Forum is aware that some traditional rulers and other local authorities are conniving with the bandits, giving them shelter and cover to commit crimes within the sub-region.
“The Forum unanimously resolved to decisively deal with any traditional ruler or community leader that is found to be harbouring or conniving with the bandits,” Zulum.
The then governor of Zamfara,now Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle also had cause to point at some traditional rulers in the state as colluding with some elements to cause insecurity in the state.
Matawalle, at a meeting with the heads of the state’s security agencies in the Government House, Gusau the state capital, accused the traditional rulers of not playing their expected roles in the fight against banditry.
In Kastina State, Gov. Dikko Radda has the same impression about some traditional rulers.
He openly accused the bad eggs among them of aiding and abetting banditry in the state, and therefore has subjected them to scrutiny.
At a news conference in Abuja, he vowed to deal decisively with any traditional or member of his cabinet found sponsoring or aiding bandits.
According to him, the fight against insurgency is a hydra-headed monster has refused to go away, which is why the state set up the Community Watch Corps to complement efforts of conventional security agencies in the fight against banditry.
“As I speak to you, there are some traditional rulers that have been identified and those ones are already under scrutiny.
“We are not sparing anybody. I’m telling you that even my commissioners or anybody found to be involved in any criminal activity won’t be spared.
“We are talking about the lives of Katsina people, not one individual. No single individual is more important than 10 million people, especially innocent persons in the village’’, Radda told newsmen.
Earlier this year, media reports had it that bandits struck Gidan Bakuso in Gada local government area of Sokoto state, abducting over 15 Tsangaya students, with several others currently missing.
That was not an isolated incident, it was one out of many similar attacks.
Faced with this challenge, the Sokoto State governor, Ahmad Aliyu, did not just say he has identified some traditional rulers aiding and abetting insecurity in the state, but has taken the extra step of dethroning nine of them implicated after an investigation.
Other offences committed by the traditional rulers according to Bawa are: land racketeering conversion of public properties for personal use, and in the overriding public interest.
Mr Abubakar Bawa, the Press Secretary to Aliyu, in a statement, gave the domains of the deposed district heads as Unguwar Lalle, Yabo, Wamakko, Tulluwa, Illela, Dogon Daji, Kebbe, Alkammu, and Giyawa.
The action of the government also included transfer of some traditional rulers and removal of some of them due to the haphazard nature of their appointment, which he said did not follow due process as well as their total rejection by their subjects,” he said.
By taking the bull by the horn, observers of security situation in the northwest say Aliyu has demonstrated uncommon courage and commitment to tackling the challenge without minding whose ox is gored.
Alhaji Zakari Abdullahi a community leader in Tangaza town, headquarters of Tangaza Local Government Area lauded Aliyu for being bold enough to implement the recommendation set up by the state government.
This singular act, he said, shows the determination of the political leadership of the state to promote security and achieve peace, progress and political stability in the state.
“We the rural dwellers remain grateful to Aliyu administration for reorganizing the traditional institution in areas of dismissing those found wanting and appointing credible ones in the state.
“This show that any person found wanting will be deal with accordingly without fair and favour ‘’, he said.
Alhaji Musa Abdullahi of Isa Local Government Area also praised the Aliyu for being bold enough to reposition the traditional institution for optimal performances.
“The action of the governor demonstrates that nobody is above the law.
“The task ahead now is for residents to compliment the efforts of the state government by coming out with reliable information on movement of bad elements in their midst.
“We can collectively support the commitment of our amiable Gov Aliyu through useful information that could assist security agencies apprehend those criminals.
“Sokoto state is all we have. It is our duty to work towards promoting peaceful atmosphere to enable government put in place policies and programmes that will enhance the well-being of our people“, he said.
While the action of Sokoto State Government is commendable, observers call for caution given the sensitive nature of traditional institutions.
However, they say that any legal action capable of bring guaranteeing peace and security of the country should be taken by the authorities, including governors who are the chief security officers of their states.( NAN)
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