As he approaches three years in office as Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State on Security Matters, retired military officer, Col. Ahmed Usman, says community-based intelligence has become a critical tool in the fight against rural insecurity in Sokoto State. In this interview, Usman highlights the administration’s security interventions, the importance of stronger collaboration with local communities and the need for sustained efforts to tackle banditry and other criminal activities. Onuminya Innocent brings the excerpts:
You have now spent almost three years in office as Special Adviser on Security Matters. Looking back, what achievements would you say the administration has recorded in the area of security?
It is true that it is now almost three years since I was appointed by Governor Ahmed Aliyu. I was among the first set of appointees because the governor considers security a top priority. Security is one of the key pillars of the administration’s 9-Point SMART Agenda, and that demonstrates the importance attached to protecting lives and property. When this government came into office, many sectors had deteriorated, and the security sector was particularly affected. The previous administration had withdrawn most forms of support to security agencies, especially personnel operating in frontline areas. Operational allowances were discontinued, and there was little or no provision of vehicles, equipment, or other logistics required for effective operations. One of the major gaps we met was the absence of a functional platform where security stakeholders could regularly meet to assess threats and develop coordinated responses. The first major step taken by this administration was the establishment of a State Security Committee under the chairmanship of the Deputy Governor, Engr. Idris Mohammed Gobir. The committee includes security chiefs, traditional rulers, and other relevant stakeholders. It meets regularly, and its recommendations have guided many of the security interventions implemented by the government.
