Bello Matawalle, minister of state for defence, says the security challenges confronting the country will soon be brought under control.
Matawalle spoke on Monday in Kano state during a condolence and assessment visit to the government house following the August 29 bandit attack on Chiroma village, Garun Mallam LGA.
The minister said the federal government is determined to end insecurity through proactive operations, strategic planning and stronger collaboration with state governments.
Matawalle assured the Kano government and residents that President Bola Tinubu’s administration remains committed to defeating insecurity and restoring lasting peace across the country.
“The president has constituted a committee to develop a five-year defence and security plan. This will guide our long-term approach to tackling security threats across the country,” he said.
Matawalle said after the attack, Saka Jimoh, a brigadier general and commander of 3 Brigade, Kano, led a joint operation involving personnel from the joint task force (JTF) at the Hawan-Kwano and Kwanar Dangora camps, resulting in the rescue of several kidnapped victims around the Yan-Kifi bridge and Marabar Kwari areas of Garun Mallam LGA.
Matawalle commended the troops for the rescue operation, noting that the federal government would continue to strengthen the operational capacity of the armed forces and other security agencies.
He said defeating insecurity requires a collective effort from all levels of government and society.
“We will continue doing everything possible to support our security services to ensure our country is safe. I assure you that soon, insecurity will be a thing of the past, and we will all live in peace and prosperity,” he said.
“It takes the combined effort of local government, state and federal levels to tackle this issue of insecurity. We also need timely and credible information from citizens to security agencies.”
The minister pledged increased federal government support to Kano state, including the deployment of additional fighting vehicles, weapons and other operational equipment to strengthen security operations.
Matawalle also held a closed-door security meeting with commanders of the 3 Brigade and other formations in Kano, and urged them to sustain the momentum of ongoing operations and intensify efforts to secure communities.
He said the federal government will continue to provide the resources and support needed to protect lives, property and the nation’s territorial integrity.
Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano, thanked the minister for the visit and promised the state’s continued collaboration with the federal government.
“We are confident in your leadership. At the state level, we will continue to do what needs to be done to ensure security and stability in Kano,” Yusuf said.
“We have heard the president’s commitment to security in Nigeria, and we will ensure that the menace of insecurity does not remain in our domain.”