Muhammad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, has said it will take decades for the northwest to overcome banditry and insecurity.
News About Nigeria reports that the Sultan spoke at the “Inaugural North West Peace and Security Summit,” held in Katsina on Monday.
“What we must do is to challenge these bandits because we all know the consequences of banditry and insurgency on our lives,” the Sultan said.
“But it will take decades to get out of it if all we get out of it. We all know the consequences and the problems.”
The traditional ruler expressed the readiness of traditional rulers to collaborate with security agencies and northern governors to combat banditry and insurgency in the region.
“I believe that at the end of the summit, proposals to bring insurgency to the barest minimum for people to go about their lives and businesses would be arrived at.”
The event was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu, former President Muhammadu Buhari, governors of the seven states in the north-west geopolitical zone, service chiefs, Kayode Egbetokun, and the inspector general of police.
Recall that on February 14, the sultan said insecurity and poverty were the major issues causing trouble for the people of the north.
The sultan said traditional rulers owe it a duty to Nigerians, who believe in the traditional institution, to bring solutions to the various problems facing the country.
“But I believe talking about insecurity and the rising level of poverty are two issues that we cannot fold our arms and think everything is okay.
“I have said it so many times and at so many fora that, things are not okay in Nigeria and of course, things are not okay in the north.
“To me, this government is a continuation of the former government; it is the same party.”
