Spare no criminals in Bauchi, gov tells soldiers

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, on Tuesday charged troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Safe Haven/Operation Enduring Peace, to intensify intelligence gathering and ensure that no criminal element operating in the state is spared.

The governor gave the charge while receiving the newly deployed General Officer Commanding, 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Jos, and Commander of Operation Safe Haven/Operation Enduring Peace, Major General Maxwell Dangana, during a courtesy visit to the Government House, Bauchi.

Mohammed said Bauchi could not afford to lose the relative peace it currently enjoys to criminal activities, stressing that the state government remained committed to supporting security agencies in the fight against insecurity.

He identified illegal mining as one of the major drivers of terrorism and insecurity in the state, warning that criminal networks were exploiting mining activities to finance violence in rural communities.

“Your visit is very timely and very auspicious to us. This has sent a clear message to criminal elements that Bauchi State will never be a safe haven for them and, by extension, the country.

“I want to state unequivocally that the Bauchi State Government has absolute confidence in the capacity, discipline and bravery of the Nigerian Army.

“The Nigerian Army deserves our collective commendation, not criticism, as they leave their families behind to protect ours. For that, the people of Bauchi State say thank you,” the governor said.

He lamented that bandits and illegal miners were threatening the state’s food security and economic survival by attacking communities and preventing farmers from accessing their farmlands.

“Criminal elements, bandits and illegal miners are perpetrating crimes in our land. Innocent citizens are being driven from their homes. Our farmers are being terrorised on their farmlands. This is a direct threat to our food security and our economic survival.

“By strengthening collaboration among states that share borders, we can effectively neutralise banditry and dismantle illegal mining cartels that fuel insecurity in our rural areas.

“Even some of our own stakeholders are partners with illegal miners because of the huge economic benefits. I want you to intensify your intelligence. Don’t spare anybody. Even if my son is involved in illegal mining, deal with him decisively,” Mohammed declared.

Earlier, the General Officer Commanding, Major General Maxwell Dangana, said he was in Bauchi as part of his familiarisation tour following his assumption of office as Commander of Operation Safe Haven and Operation Enduring Peace two weeks ago.

According to him, the visit was aimed at assessing the security situation, identifying operational challenges and reviewing existing strategies to improve security across the area of responsibility.

“I took over the command just two weeks ago, and, of course, Operation Enduring Peace. For that reason, I asked my formations to assess the situation in those areas, check their requirements and challenges and, of course, give my direction on what should be done.

“We are going to review our strategies and see how best we can secure our people,” Dangana said.