Governor Fintiri’s Security Challenges

The development of any community is measured by peaceful coexistence. Therefore peace can be said to be the determining factor for any positive change to take place and government can only succeed in its developmental drive in an atmosphere devoid of conflicts.

Residents of Jimeta-Yola, the Adamawa State capital have been enjoying peace for decades until recently when a cult group called “Yan Shila” emerged, terrorizing people particularly commuters who board Keke Napep by confiscating their handsets, handbags, and other valuables. It became a serious security challenge to government and security agencies in the state. Besides Yan Shila, there was widespread kidnapping of people, regardless of status.

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri swung into action immediately after assuming office by holding meetings with all stakeholders in the security sector to fine tune security measures to tame the crisis so that everyone will move freely and go about their legitimate businesses without fear and molestation.

The governor gave the security agencies marching order to flush out the criminals and their cohorts so that investors would be en

couraged to come and invest in the state. The order yielded positive results with the arrest of 252 Shila cult boys and more than 60 kidnappers in less than a month. Besides, the governor in company with head of security outfits paid unscheduled visit to the camp of a Shila Boy nicknamed Sambisa along Mubi byepass in Jimeta town. The government of Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has also taken proactive measures to bring to an end the menace of kidnappers by proposing a bill to the state house of assembly for stiffer penalties for kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminals. Government is also extending support to vigilantes and hunters who are being screened by the appropriate security agencies to make them part of the offensive against criminals.

For government to succeed in ensuring peaceful coexistence in all nooks and crannies of Adamawa all hands must be on deck; people should set political differences aside and support the government and security agencies by divulging useful information that will lead to the arrest of criminals since they live among us.

––Hauwa Musa, Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri