Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Administration and Finance, Suleiman Muhammad Abdul, has called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, youths and community groups in Sokoto State to support security agencies in tackling banditry, arms trafficking and other crimes in the North-West.
Abdul made the call on Monday during a stakeholders’ engagement in Sokoto, where he said addressing insecurity required the active participation of local communities.
He noted that Sokoto’s border with the Niger Republic made the state vulnerable to arms trafficking and other transnational crimes.
While religious leaders should continue to advocate for peace and discourage violence, the DIG urged traditional rulers to bolster grassroots intelligence gathering.
Additionally, he urged young people to oppose being recruited by criminal organisations.
In order to increase security throughout Sokoto and the larger North-West region, Abdul stated that the Nigeria Police Force would keep advancing intelligence-led operations and community policing.
Hayatu Usman, the Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, earlier stated that the command had documented successes in recent operations, including the recovery of stolen livestock, the arrest of suspects, the recovery of firearms and ammunition, and the rescue of kidnapped victims.
However, Usman noted that the command faces a number of challenges, including manpower shortages, logistical issues, and shifting criminal groups’ tactics.
He claimed that intelligence-driven operations and assistance from stakeholders throughout the state made the police’s accomplishments possible.
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