The Chairman of Isa Local Government Area in Sokoto State, Alhaji Sharifu Kamarawa, has appealed for the re-establishment of a military camp in Kagara to combat the growing influence of bandits in the eastern part of the council.
Kamarawa made this request while receiving the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, at the local government secretariat on Thursday.
Kamarawa disclosed that while peace reigns in Isa town, the eastern region remains under the control of bandits led by notorious warlord Kachalla Bello Turji.
He revealed that the bandits have taken over some villages, appointing and deposing traditional rulers at will.
“There are places that are still under the control of bandits. They appoint and depose village heads there. We are appealing for a military camp in Kagara to take care of those areas,” Kamarawa said.
“We used to have a camp there before it was relocated, and there was relative peace. So we want the camp back.”
However, Kamarawa acknowledged that the situation had improved somewhat since the death of bandit leader Halilu Sububu, killed about a month ago.
“Since his death, there has been a significant reduction in attacks, and we can now use some roads that were previously abandoned,” he added.
In response, the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, assured the people of Isa LGA of the federal government’s commitment to tackling insecurity in the region.
He emphasized that President Bola Tinubu is deeply concerned about the insecurity in the North and has taken steps to address it.
“The President appointed northerners as Ministers of Defence and heads of security agencies because of the region’s security challenges,” Matawalle stated.
“The President has also directed me to ensure the militarization of all danger areas in Sokoto State.”
He announced plans to establish a military base at Gundumi, which will patrol the Gundumi-Marnona road that has been closed for years due to bandit activities.
Matawalle further reassured the residents of Isa of the deployment of additional security forces to the area. “We need your support because security is everyone’s business. We need to know about the bandits’ movements to act effectively,” he said.
The meeting highlighted the ongoing security concerns in Sokoto State and the efforts by both local and federal authorities to restore peace and stability to the region.
