In a move that appears to be politically motivated, Concerned Stakeholders of Bogoro and Tafawa Balewa local government areas of Bauchi State have written a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari over growing incidences of kidnapping and other forms of insecurity sidelining Governor Bala Mohammed who is the Chief Security Officer of the State.
The Stakeholders under the umbrella of the Conference of Community Development Associations and Religious Leaders Forum, Bogoro and Tafawa Balewa said this in an Open Letter sent to the President. They expressed worry over the spate of recent attacks in the area, arguing that the development is causing fear and tension in the two LGs.
They said t became imperative for them to sound the early warning to avoid total collapse.
“As concerned residents in the region, we are alarmed by the development. Granted the recent disturbing state of insecurity which the Federal and Bauchi State governments are both concerned about, we the leaders of our people across ethnic and religious divides have their mandate to communicate our concern, and we believe an immediate and appropriate actions will be taken by the government to prevent the situation from worsening.”
“Recently, there have been successions of heinous incidents that have made us quite alarmed. Our people are fleeing in fear of terror at a time when communities are celebrating the completion of State and Federal Government projects.”
“The increased rate of banditry, kidnapping, and outright terror is penetrating our territories, threatening peace and security. It should be mentioned that Bauchi is one of the safest and most peaceful states in the north, and we don’t want anything or anyone to halt our growth both as a people and a community.”
“We are also concerned about violent incidents and cult-like group activities that pose a threat to peace and security. Some ill-motivated teenagers and bandits, as well as kidnapping and attacks by unknown gunmen, have been reported”
“We have had a series of scenes that have threatened our Peace as a people from the April 18th, 2020 attack in Tafawa Balewa, to an attack in July of Mama Rifkatu who was killed on her Farm and Mrs Mary Alhamdu who was killed on her way back from the Farm Within the Borders of Tafawa Balewa LGA, to another herder attack in Bar Village of Bogoro.”
“three people died and a large number were injured in Num community of Tafawa Balewa LGA On 9th May 2022. Similarly, at Tudun Sayawa Village there was an attack on 16th May 2022, and a clergyman was attacked in his pastorium,” the letter read in parts.
Commenting on the purported letter, Mr Musa Musa a public affairs commentator said instead of writing the President directly for the first time, it would have been more wise had they sent the letter to Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed who is the Chief Security Officer of the state.
“Sometimes people find it easy to milk simple issues with politics that do not add much value to them. Their intention is outrightly aimed at taking a jib at the governor who is working round the clock with security agencies in the state to ensure the safety of lives and property of citizens of the state,” he said.
