By Abdullahi Inuwa
A few years ago, the mention of towns like Gujiba, Buni Yadi, or Buni Gari sent shivers down the spine. Roads were death traps, markets were abandoned, and nights were pierced by the distant rattle of gunfire. Farmers abandoned their fields.
Herdsmen avoided traditional cattle routes. Families locked themselves indoors long before sunset, unsure if they would see the next dawn.
Today, those same roads are alive with buses, motorcycles, and traders hauling goods. Markets buzz with the smell of fresh produce and the chatter of bargaining voices.
In the heart of this transformation stands Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam (Rtd), Senior Special Assistant on Security Matters to Governor Mai Mala Buni a man who has lived through Yobe’s darkest nights and is now helping script its brightest chapter.
“When we speak of Yobe’s security today, we speak with confidence,” Abdulsalam says. “We’re winning because we are united.”
A Team Forged in Unity
The security revival is not the work of one agency or one man. It’s the result of an alliance the Nigerian Army, Civil Defence, Police, and even local hunters now operating as a single, tightly coordinated force. Modern military strategy meets local knowledge, with intelligence flowing freely from the grassroots to the highest levels of command.
“Our strength lies in unity of purpose,” Abdulsalam explains. “We combine advanced tactics with the kind of community intelligence that can stop the enemy before they even move.”
This strategy has paid off. Between January and June this year alone, Boko Haram attacks have been intercepted mid-plot, kidnappings have plummeted, and villages that once paid “protection taxes” to insurgents are free from that grip.
From Fear to Freedom
The change is most visible in once-notorious flashpoints. In Gujiba, Buni Yadi, and Buni Gari, nightfall no longer signals danger. “Last year, if you were told to go to these places, you wouldn’t dare,” Abdulsalam says. “Today, you can drive there at any time for business, farming, or visiting family.”
For years, insurgents also turned vital cattle routes into ambush zones, crippling Yobe’s pastoral economy. Now, those lifelines are open again. Farmers can move grain to market. Herdsmen can drive cattle without fear. The reopening of these routes has not just restored trade it has revived a way of life.
Governor Buni’s Strategic Edge
Abdulsalam is quick to give credit to Governor Mai Mala Buni for the turnaround. “All this success happened under his leadership,” he says.
The governor’s approach blends security operations with community engagement. Modern communication gadgets have been distributed to communities, creating a rapid, reliable intelligence network.
“In counter-insurgency, speed is everything,” Abdulsalam explains. “The Governor made sure we have the tools and the channels to act in time.”
People Power as the First Line of Defence
One of the cornerstones of Yobe’s new security doctrine is public participation. The rule is simple: see something, say something. Communities are encouraged to report strange movements, unfamiliar gatherings, or suspicious behaviour and they’re doing it in record numbers.
“Security is everyone’s job,” Abdulsalam insists. “When people share information, they’re not just helping the government they’re saving lives.”
Local hunters, once sidelined as relics of an older era, are now critical assets. They know the terrain intimately, can track movements through the bush, and guide forces into hard-to-reach areas.
In some cases, they’ve been the first to detect an insurgent presence, enabling security forces to strike before harm is done.
The Sound of Normal Life
The true victory, Abdulsalam says, isn’t only in statistics. It’s in the quiet return of everyday life. Farmers who fled their fields are planting again.
Traders are restocking shops once shuttered by fear. Schools have reopened in areas once under insurgent control. The once-deserted markets of Gujiba and Buni Yadi now hum with commerce.
“This is what success looks like,” Abdulsalam says. “It’s in the smiles of people who can now walk their streets without fear.”
Eyes on the Future
Still, he warns against complacency. “Insurgency adapts. They look for weaknesses. We must stay ahead.” His message to the people is direct: unity and vigilance must continue.
He calls on the federal government and development partners to keep supporting Yobe’s recovery, stressing that “security opens the door to development but to keep it open, we must build strong institutions, create jobs, and invest in our youth.”
As our conversation ends, Abdulsalam delivers a line that sums up Yobe’s journey:
“We’ve proven that no matter how long the night, dawn will always come.”
This expanded version carries more scene-setting, emotional weight, and narrative colour while keeping it punchy enough for a news feature.
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