Article Summary
- North-East stakeholders commend the outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for combating insurgency and improving regional security.
- Residents of the worst-affected states – Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe – celebrate the reduced frequency of attacks and abductions and decreased security checkpoints.
- Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno also praised Buhari for his commitment to peace, crediting him for the mass surrender of insurgents.
- Security and conflict management experts endorse the President’s work equipping the military and security services, urging the incoming administration to maintain momentum.
News Story
As the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari nears its end, stakeholders across North-East Nigeria are voicing their appreciation for the significant improvement in regional security, crediting the President for degrading insurgent activities.
These sentiments were expressed by several residents of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe – the states most heavily impacted by insurgency.
“I drive regularly through Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, and Bauchi, and I’ve noticed a marked improvement,” explained Samaila Ibrahim, a commercial bus driver. “We no longer see frequent attacks or abductions on the highway, and the number of security checkpoints has dramatically decreased as safety continues to enhance.”
Borno Governor Babagana Zulum, who presides over the state most affected by the insurgency, also spoke positively of the growing sense of peace and normalcy.
The governor praised the Buhari administration for its dedication to restoring tranquillity in the Northeast, particularly Borno. Zulum highlighted the kinetic and non-kinetic approaches that have led to the mass surrender of insurgents.
Thanks to the improved security situation, the governor said, “Our citizens have regained access to their farm lands this year and are now harvesting their crops without interference from insurgents.”
Dr Mahdi Abba, a security expert at Modibbo Adama University in Adamawa, and DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, the Police Command spokesman in Yobe, joined the chorus of commendation, attributing the progress to the Buhari administration’s support to security agencies and improved operational synergy.
Dr Lawan Cheri, a specialist in peace studies and conflict management, expressed his satisfaction with the improved security in the Northeast, attributing it to the administration’s equipping security agencies.
He urged President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to maintain this momentum in the Northeast and other areas grappling with insecurity.
Editorial
A Farewell to Buhari: Security Gains in Nigeria’s North-East
As President Muhammadu Buhari prepares to step down from office, stakeholders from across North-East Nigeria acknowledge the significant strides made in regional security during his tenure.
This commendation is well-deserved, given the impressive progress in reducing the frequency and impact of insurgent activities in the region.
The Northeast, particularly Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states, has long been plagued by insurgency.
The area’s improvement in security is an encouraging sign and a testament to the concerted efforts of the Buhari administration, as well as the military and other security agencies.
Increased access to farmlands, reduced attacks and abductions, and a dwindling presence of security checkpoints indicate a region moving towards normalcy.
Importantly, these positive changes have not occurred in a vacuum – they are a result of targeted strategies, including kinetic and non-kinetic approaches that led to a mass surrender of insurgents.
However, the journey towards peace and stability is far from over.
As we bid farewell to President Buhari, we also look to the incoming administration of President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, with the hope that he will continue the work started by his predecessor.
The stakes are high, and the people of North-East Nigeria deserve a sustained commitment to their security and well-being.
