DSS raise alarm over massive surrender of terrorists in North East
By Matthew Eloyi
The Conference of State Directors of Security (SDSes), North East zone, has raised alarm on the recent massive surrender of terrorists in the region saying it constitutes serious challenges to the de-radicalization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration DRR programme of the Federal Government.
The Conference Chairman and Adamawa State Director of SDS, Babagana Bulama who disclosed this in a Communique issued at the end of the 5th meeting of the North East zonal conference on Thursday, said this is because the number of the surrendered terrorists are overwhelming such that the Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) facility in Gombe State cannot contain them.
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He also noted the recent increase in the activities of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) in recruiting foot soldiers for their planned “2nd phase of the Abuja Struggle” and sending of its members abroad for special training and called on the Federal Government to block all sources of funding (local and International) to IMN and foreign training trips by IMN members.
Bulama who read out the Communique to Governor Inuwa Yahaya during a courtesy call to him at the Government House urged the Federal Government to establish more centres in Borno State, the epic center and also demilitarized the DRR programme and make the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) take the lead and accord other relevant agencies prominent roles in line with their statutory responsibilities.
Similarly, the conference observed the use of Wawa-Zange grazing reserve which traverses Gombe, Yobe and Bauchi States by insurgents as a transit channel/hub and calls for a joint inter-states security operation to flush them out.
The conference also identified illicit drugs as one of the fuels for criminalities in the sub-region and called on the Government to establish special courts to try drug related cases and also empower the NDLEA to effectively fight drug abuse and trafficking.
It also observe the massive influx of Cameroonian refuges to Taraba State on the Nigeria-Cameroon border and called for enhanced bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Cameroon to effectively manage the situation.
Responding, Governor Inuwa Yahaya said the military in conjunction with other security agencies in the state has really helped in maintaining peace and protecting the people of the state.
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In his words, “I must confess that the relative peace that we have when compared with other neighboring states is really very high and we really appreciate this.”
He added that being at the centre of the region makes Gombe State to be the host to people who are displaced from the frontline states and for that reason, Gombe State needs to be specially compensated.
