From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Kaduna State Government has concluded arrangements, in collaboration with the security agencies, especially Operation Safe Haven, to resettle Southern Kaduna communities displaced by bandits back to their ancestral homes. The state government said the resettlement will be done in batches.
Governor Uba Sani made the disclosure, yesterday, while briefing journalists shortly after the state’s security council meeting at Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, Kaduna.
The governor, who was flanked by the General Officers Commanding 3 Division and 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj. General AbdulSalam Abubakar and Maj General Valentine Okoro, respectively, said the government was ready to provide all logistics necessary to resettle the displaced communities to their ancestral homes. He said the government would be assisting the displaced people to rebuild their destroyed communities where the need arises.
Governor Sani said: “Fighting insecurity is the number one agenda of this administration because we believe without resolving the security challenges, we might not be able to achieve all the development agenda of our government. We have invested a lot in the area of development, but I believe addressing the problem of insecurity is key. And as a government, we have to ensure that our people live in a secured environment.
“We have been able to achieve a lot and we will not relent, we will continue to fight the bandits, the insurgents and the criminals within the Birnin Gwari and Southern Kaduna axis. The security reports from the security chiefs have shown that we are making progress, and we will continue to support them in terms of logistics and technology.”
On Southern Kaduna, the governor said: “We are working together with Operation Safe Haven under the command of the GOC 3 Division, General Abubakar, on the resettlement of displaced Southern Kaduna communities. This is because security and safety is the fundamental human right of the people; it is not something that the government needs to think twice before doing.
“It is our responsibility to make sure that those displaced as a result of insecurity are returned to their homes safely, and the government will do that as its responsibility. Where they need to be supported in terms of rebuilding their community, we will do that. That is the responsibility of the government,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, GOC 3 Division and Commander, Operation Safe Haven, Major General AbdulSalam Abubakar, said the first phase of the resettlement will start with 15 communities.
He said: “What we did at the meeting was that we reviewed the security situation in Kaduna State. But, for me, I am responsible for Southern Kaduna. So, we have made some projections to His Excellency, because one of the ways to measure the milestones of the achievements of Operation Safe Haven is the ability to return those displaced by the crisis to their ancestral homes, so they can resume socioeconomic activities.
“So, what we are planning to do right now is to resettle about 15 communities back to their ancestral homes. But, they will be needing some logistics which the government will be providing to enable them to settle back and start their normal lives, once again,” the GOC said.
The GOC 1 Division, Maj. General Valentine Okoro, said the government and the security agencies were harmonising efforts with all security stakeholders in the state to be able to network security architecture, to ensure that gaps that were observed in their deliberations are effectively covered.
“Going forward, we expect to have tighter security, firmer collaborations between all security stakeholders that we believe will enhance peace and security for the people of Kaduna State. Banditry is the most potent threat in this operational environment, and we are making efforts to ensure that it is reduced to the barest minimum,” General Okoro said.