Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has reiterated the commitment of his administration to partner traditional rulers and Fulani leaders to curb the increasing cases of kidnapping and other forms of criminality in the state.
The governor made the remark on Tuesday in Lafia during the security meeting organised by the Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs.
He described traditional rulers as critical stakeholders that would bring about peace in the society because they were closer to the people at the grassroots.
He said that the government would do everything possible to support the traditional rulers to enable them to work without difficulties.
Sule assured that the government would ensure that the traditional rulers occupied their rightful position in the scheme of things.
The governor expressed gratitude to the state’s council of chiefs, especially Chairman of the council, Sidi Bage, who is also the Emir of Lafia for organising the meeting.
He added that the traditional rulers are the custodians of culture, traditions as well as communities.
He noted that while political leaders such as governors and the presidents would come and go the monarchs remained because of their critical roles in the society.
The governor promised to strengthen community policing initiative of the Inspector-General of Police, to gather intelligence that would help toward curtailing security challenges across the state.
Sule, therefore, assured members of the public that the government would give priority to security of lives and property.
Earlier, Bage, Chairman of the Council of Chiefs, said the meeting was necessitated by the increasing cases of kidnapping and other forms of criminality in the state.
He said that as traditional rulers, they had their sources of security information which was why they invited Fulani leaders to the meeting.
Bage said from the reports available to them, most of those involved in kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminalities were of Fulani extraction.
He said that it was not the intention to tarnish the image of any group, ‘but the facts are pointing to Fulani people as being responsible for most of the crimes.
“We need to tell ourselves the truth. If not we cannot solve the security problem,” he said.
He stressed that the meeting would come out with resolutions on how to tackle insecurity in the state to complement the efforts of the government.
In his remarks, Maj.-Gen. Gadzama Ali, Commandant of Nigeria Special Forces with Headquarters in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, expressed gratitude to the Council of Chiefs for organising the meeting.
He said the military would flush out criminal elements from the state and urged communities to report the presence of kidnappers, bandits and other criminals to them for prompt action.
The meeting was attended by traditional rulers, heads of security agencies and leaders of Fulani in the state among others.
