Yobe Reclaims Peace as 14 LGAs Secure From Insurgency — SSG

Yobe Reclaims Peace as 14 LGAs Secure From Insurgency — SSG

By Njadvara Musa, Damaturu 

Yobe State Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Baba Malam Wali, says normalcy has returned to most parts of the state, as 14 Local Government Areas (LGAs) are now secure from Boko Haram attacks and other criminal activities that once disrupted life and economic activities.

Addressing journalists on Wednesday in Damaturu, Wali said sustained operations by the military and other security agencies, coupled with state government interventions, have strengthened security within the last six years.

He recalled that some communities, especially in Gujba and Gulani LGAs, were once too dangerous to access due to their proximity to the Sambisa forest and the Damaturu–Biu axis. According to him, these areas were “previously inaccessible for any meaningful socio-economic activity.”

Wali explained that with support from the Federal Government and coordinated operations by troops and security operatives, peace has been restored in places such as Buni-Yadi, Gujba, Goniri and Katarko, enabling displaced residents to return to their communities.

Beyond military operations, the SSG highlighted several investments made by the Yobe State Government to stabilise the region. These include the distribution of 250 patrols and specialised vehicles to boost security responses, especially in border communities and forest fringes.

He added that the government donated transformers to military barracks, provided 500 motorcycles for field operations, and installed long-range surveillance cameras at strategic locations to monitor suspicious movements.

Wali also disclosed that the state allocated large parcels of land to various security agencies for the establishment of operational bases, including the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Army, Correctional Service, and the Department of State Services (DSS).

According to him, ongoing interventions include providing housing support for personnel, communication equipment, and monthly logistics assistance in cash and kind to the military, police, and DSS. The state also rehabilitated more than 300 operational vehicles and engaged more than 2,000 vigilantes, hunters, and hybrid forces to reinforce community security.

Highlighting the impact of these efforts, the SSG noted that residents now travel safely to distant LGAs such as Machina and Yusufari even at night, something he described as impossible at the peak of insurgency.

Wali’s briefing to over 50 journalists signifies an important turning point in Yobe’s journey towards sustained peace. He encouraged citizens to resume legitimate business activities without fear, expressing optimism that the state is on a firm path to stability after years of insecurity.