Insecurity: We must take full control of ungoverned spaces – Radda
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda says efforts must be made to take full control of ungoverned spaces to enhance sustainable peace in the country.
The governor stated this on Friday in a lecture delivered at the Federal University Gusau.
While delivering the convocation lecture titled, “Insecurity and Educational Instability in Nigeria: The way forward,” Governor Radda, a former teacher, acknowledged the global nature of insecurity, citing conflicts in Ukraine, Israel, and Sudan.
He pointed out that Nigeria’s ranking of 144th on the Global Peace Index highlights the nation’s internal security challenges.
The governor traced the evolution of insecurity in Nigeria, from colonialism and military coups to the civil war and present-day issues of kidnapping, farmer-herder clashes, and the emergence of Boko Haram and its devastating impact on learning, exemplified by the abduction of the Chibok Girls.
Radda also highlighted the current situation in the Northwest, where banditry and kidnappings are prevalent, citing the abductions of students in Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kaduna states.
According to him, more than 10% of schools in Katsina have been abandoned due to insecurity.
Governor Radda said it was imperative to take full control of ungoverned spaces to deny the criminals any space to operate.
He emphasized the need for improved policing, raising the number of security personnel, and putting up local security structures with strong vertical and horizontal integration.
“The objective, distinguished guests, is to find a sustainable solution to this problem. I propose that we begin by tackling the problem of ungoverned spaces in our country. There are vast territories across the country where the government’s influence is minimal.
“These people live on a subsistence basis and lack access to socioeconomic development. These spaces breed criminality and provide safe havens for criminals in Nigeria.
“It may explain how terrorists and bandits can kidnap hundreds of students at a time and keep them hidden despite the tools and technology available to security agents.
“Reducing ungoverned spaces will be key to intelligence gathering, rapid response efforts, and community inclusion in the fight against insecurity in Nigeria,” Radda added.
According to him, there must also be investment to boost the socio-economic status of the people, including underserved communities, and in the areas of education, and skills development.
These, he said, would address the root causes of insecurity and block opportunities to recruit gullible young people into criminality.
The governor particularly said that education was the key to national prosperity, as such there must be effective collaboration between government and stakeholders to create a more secure and stable learning environment for future generations.
President Bola Tinubu was represented by Prof. Lawal Suleiman Bilbis, Vice Chancellor, Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto.
Other dignitaries who graced the occasion included the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, Emirs, and stakeholders in the education sector.