Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, during a security summit yesterday, launched a special security task force ‘Operation Hattara’ purposely to confront Kalare restive group and other politically inclined thugs in the state.
In a statement by the State Director of Press, Ismaila Uba Misilli, Governor Yahaya, while declaring open the summit, said it would provide an opportunity for security personnel, government officials, and other strategic stakeholders to meet and discuss security issues.
The summit, themed: ‘Mitigating Contemporary Security Challenges for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development,’ was the first peace and security summit in Gombe State.
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The governor observed that given the theme of the summit and the caliber of resource persons invited as well as its participants, the summit will chart a new direction for mitigating internal security matters not only in the state but in the country as a whole.
“We are all aware that our dear country is passing through a delicate period of immense security and economic challenges and risks,” Yahaya said. “Criminal elements all over the country are united in their determination to threaten our common values, destroy our means of livelihood and make life brutish and miserable for our people.”
He said although the present security situation in the country is generally precarious, Gombe is relatively secure and peaceful.
Yahaya opined that Gombe State recorded the least incidences of killings, kidnapping and other violent crimes during the first quarter of 2022.
“However, it is imperative to note that Gombe State is not immune and insulated from happenings in other parts of the country. We have our own share of local security threats fueled by political thuggery, youth restlessness and unemployment which led to the emergence of the notorious Kalare group”, he added.
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In his remark, the Inspector General of Police IGP Usman Baba Alkali who was the Keynote speaker stressed that the theme of the summit was coming at a critical time when the Nigerian Police Force under his leadership is working towards deepening the engagement of the concept of community partnership in crime control.
He said the policy strategy seeks to address security challenges through active citizen engagement in the identification, analysis and mitigation of threats.
Alkali said community engagement like the Gombe State peace and security summit by the state government falls perfectly within the framework of the vision of community policing.
