Defence Minister Matawalle: Nigeria's Insecurity Woes Will Soon End

Bello Matawalle, Nigeria's Minister of State for Defence, has assured citizens that the country's prevailing security challenges are on the verge of being brought under control. The Minister delivered this assurance during a recent visit to the Government House in Kano State, where he offered condolences and assessed the security situation following a bandit attack on Chiroma village in Garun Mallam Local Government Area on August 29.

Minister Matawalle emphasized the Federal Government's strong resolve to tackle insecurity through a combination of proactive military operations, strategic planning, and enhanced collaboration with state administrations. He further reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s administration's unwavering commitment to eradicating insecurity and re-establishing lasting peace throughout the nation for the Kano government and its residents.

“The president has constituted a committee to develop a five-year defence and security plan. This will guide our long-term approach to tackling security threats across the country,” Matawalle stated.

He revealed that subsequent to the aforementioned attack, Brigadier General Saka Jimoh, who commands the 3 Brigade in Kano, spearheaded a joint operation. This operation involved personnel from the Joint Task Force stationed at the Hawan-Kwano and Kwanar Dangora camps, successfully leading to the rescue of several kidn*pped individuals from the Yan-Kifi Bridge and Marabar Kwari areas within Garun Mallam LGA.

Matawalle lauded the troops for their successful rescue mission, reiterating that the Federal Government would continue to bolster the operational capabilities of the armed forces and other security agencies. He underscored that addressing insecurity necessitates a unified approach involving all tiers of government and society, urging Nigerians to provide timely and credible intelligence to security operatives.

“We will continue doing everything possible to support our security services to ensure our country is safe. I assure you that soon, insecurity will be a thing of the past, and we will all live in peace and prosperity,” he affirmed. He added, “It takes the combined effort of local government, state and federal levels to tackle this issue of insecurity. We also need timely and credible information from citizens to security agencies.”

The Minister also committed to increased federal assistance for Kano State, including the provision of additional fighting vehicles, weaponry, and other essential operational equipment to reinforce security operations. Following his public statements, Matawalle convened a closed-door security meeting with commanders from the 3 Brigade and other security formations within Kano. During this meeting, he encouraged them to maintain the momentum of ongoing operations and intensify efforts to safeguard vulnerable communities. He pledged that the Federal Government would consistently provide the necessary resources and backing to protect lives and property, and to uphold the nation’s territorial integrity.

In response, Governor Abba Yusuf expressed gratitude to the Minister for his visit and reiterated the state government’s continuous cooperation with the Federal Government on security matters. “We are confident in your leadership. At the state level, we will continue to do what needs to be done to ensure security and stability in Kano,” Governor Yusuf remarked. He further stated, “We have heard the president’s commitment to security in Nigeria, and we will ensure that the menace of insecurity does not remain in our domain.”