By Abdullahi Inuwa
The Special Adviser to the Yobe State Governor on Security Matters, Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam, has stressed that security forces cannot effectively defeat terrorists and other criminal elements without the active cooperation and support of local communities.
Abdulsalam made the remarks in an interview with journalists in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, where he called on residents to remain vigilant and promptly share useful information with security agencies.
According to him, community cooperation remains a critical weapon in the fight against terrorism, particularly in identifying suspicious movements and preventing insurgents from gaining a foothold in vulnerable communities.
He said the security situation in Yobe State was currently relatively stable, despite isolated attempts by Boko Haram terrorists to attack communities in parts of Bursari, Geidam, Yunusari and Gujba Local Government Areas.
The attacks, he noted, had been successfully repelled through the combined efforts of the military and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).
The security adviser attributed part of the security challenges facing the state to Yobe’s extensive border with the Niger Republic, which, he said, could provide opportunities for terrorists to move across areas and perpetrate criminal activities.
He therefore urged residents to intensify their collaboration with the military, police, CJTF and other security agencies by reporting suspicious persons, movements and activities in their communities.
Abdulsalam commended communities that had continued to support security personnel by providing timely information on the activities and movements of suspected terrorists.
He said such cooperation had contributed significantly to preventing attacks and strengthening security across the state.
Elections: Residents in Insurgency-Affected Areas Assured of Safety
The governor’s security adviser also allayed fears over the conduct of future elections in areas previously affected by insurgency, assuring residents that adequate security arrangements would be put in place.
He specifically mentioned areas such as Yunusari, Bursari, Tarmuwa, Geidam and Gujba, where security concerns have previously affected electoral activities.
Abdulsalam said arrangements would be made to protect voters and election officials, including residents whose polling units may be transferred from insecure locations to safer areas.
He urged residents not to be intimidated by past security challenges, assuring them that the government and security agencies were prepared to safeguard the electoral process.
He further said Governor Mai Mala Buni, as the state’s chief security officer, had made adequate preparations to protect lives and property, with the support of security agencies operating across Yobe.
Abdulsalam expressed confidence that, with continued cooperation between residents, the government and security forces, Yobe would sustain its current relative peace and ensure that criminal elements are denied the opportunity to destabilise the state.
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