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. He described the GOC’s visit as timely and auspicious, saying it sent a clear message to criminal elements that Bauchi State would never be a safe haven for them and, by extension, the country. He stated unequivocally that the Bauchi State Government had absolute confidence in the capacity, discipline and bravery of the Nigerian Army, adding that the Army deserved collective commendation rather than criticism, since its personnel leave their families behind to protect others, for which the people of Bauchi State were grateful.
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. He said criminal elements, bandits and illegal miners were perpetrating crimes across the state, driving innocent citizens from their homes and terrorising farmers on their farmlands, describing it as a direct threat to food security and economic survival. He added that strengthening collaboration among states that share borders could help effectively neutralise banditry and dismantle illegal mining cartels fuelling insecurity in rural areas.
He further noted that even some stakeholders within the state were partnering with illegal miners because of the huge economic benefits involved, and urged the troops to intensify their intelligence gathering and spare no one, declaring that even if his own son were involved in illegal mining, he should be dealt with decisively.
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.
He explained that having taken over the command just two weeks earlier, he had asked his formations to assess the situation in their respective areas, examine their requirements and challenges, and await his direction on the way forward. He said the command would be reviewing its strategies to determine the best approach to securing the people.
