The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Abubakar, on Monday highlighted the prolonged struggle the north-west region of Nigeria faces in overcoming its severe security challenges.
Speaking at the ‘Inaugural North West Peace and Security Summit’ held in Katsina, the Sultan emphasized the gravity of the situation.
In his address, the Sultan said: “What we must do is challenge these bandits because we all know the consequences of banditry and insurgency on our lives. But it will take decades to get out of it if at all we get out of it. We all know the consequences and the problems.”
The monarch further stressed the commitment of traditional rulers in the region to collaborate with security agencies and northern governors to combat the rampant banditry and insurgency. He expressed optimism about the summit’s outcomes, stating: “I believe that at the end of the summit, proposals to bring insurgency to the barest minimum for people to go about their lives and businesses would be arrived at.”
The summit saw significant attendance, including Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu, former President Muhammadu Buhari, the governors of the seven states in the north-west geopolitical zone, service chiefs, and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun.
