Oyo abduction: Bala canvasses rejig of security architecture

Ibadan: Gov. Mohammed Bala of Bauchi State has called for a comprehensive review of the nation’s security architecture to address the country’s growing security challenges.

Bala made the call when he led some members of the leadership of Allied People’s Movement(APM) on a solidarity visit to Gov. Seyi Makinde at his Ikolaba residence in Ibadan.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after a closed-door meeting with Makinde, Bala maintained that there was a need for synergy among security agencies and increased community participation in combating crime.

He underscored the need for a comprehensive rejig of the nation’s security architecture to nip the rampant security lapses across the country.

“The nation’s security architecture requires scrutiny to birth greater commitment and better synergy among security operatives as well as between the security agencies and the citizens,” Bala stressed.

The governor, who sympathised with his Oyo State counterpart over the May 15 abduction of some pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of the state, urged citizens to remain vigilant and avoid collaborating with criminal elements.

He said that the prolonged ordeal of the abducted pupils and teachers had generated concern across the country.

Bala, however, expressed confidence in Makinde’s capacity to secure the release of the abductees, and pledged the support of the government and people of Bauchi State towards efforts aimed at ensuring the safe return of the victims.

“We are here to encourage him that what he is doing to ensure their release is being noticed by the whole nation.
” We join, on behalf of myself, the government and people of Bauchi State, to commiserate with him and to encourage him to ensure that these Nigerians are released,” he said

The governor cited community engagement initiatives adopted in Bauchi State as a method to improve security awareness in states across the country.

He attributed the rising criminal activities in the country to economic hardship and challenges of governance.

Bala tasked the citizens to take responsibility for the future of the country by electing credible leaders in the coming general elections.

He congratulated Makinde on his emergence as the presidential candidate of the APM, describing him as an energetic and visionary leader capable of providing quality leadership and good governance for Nigeria

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Chairman of APM, Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle
and the party’s governorship candidate in Bauchi State, Dr Yakubu Adamu, were members of the delegation.