The Sokoto State Government has declared that the state is more secure under the leadership of Governor Ahmed Aliyu, particularly in areas previously overrun by bandits and insurgents.
As the administration marked two years in office on Thursday, a security scorecard released by the governor’s Special Adviser on Security Matters, Col Ahmed Usman (retd.), outlined the notable turnaround in the state’s security landscape — especially in the volatile eastern axis that had long been a hotbed for armed violence.
Usman noted that Governor Aliyu, who took office in 2023, had made security the cornerstone of his nine-point “smart and innovative” agenda.
According to him, two years after, the results of that focus are evident on the ground, with reduced attacks, improved intelligence networks, and a greater sense of safety reported in rural communities.
“In its first year, the administration provided hundreds of new patrol vehicles and motorcycles to security agencies,” said Usman. “It also reinstated monthly operational allowances for personnel — payments suspended by the previous administration.”
He listed one of the most impactful reforms as the creation of the Sokoto State Community Guard Corps, a local security outfit launched to work alongside federal security agencies and boost grassroots intelligence gathering.
This initiative, the government said, had become a model for other states battling rural insecurity.
“To strengthen coordination, the administration also established a Special Security Committee headed by Deputy Governor Engr. Idris Muhammad Gobir. The committee includes traditional rulers, security chiefs, and community leaders, and meets regularly to assess threats and recommend policy actions.
He added that a significant milestone in the state’s fight against insecurity had been the operationalisation of an air surveillance unit under Operation Fansan Yamma, which allows for rapid response across difficult terrain.
“Governor Aliyu’s leadership has restored public confidence in our security architecture,” he said. “From day one, he prioritised security as the cornerstone of his nine-point ‘smart and innovative’ agenda, and two years on, that decision is paying off.”
Usman stated that in the administration’s first year alone, it delivered hundreds of new patrol vehicles and motorcycles to various security agencies.
He added that the state government reinstated the monthly operational allowances for security personnel—payments that had been suspended by the previous government.
A major move by the Aliyu administration, according to the retired army officer, was the launch of the Sokoto State Community Guard Corps—a local security outfit designed to bolster grassroots intelligence and complement the operations of federal security forces.
“To ensure effective coordination and community engagement, the governor established a Special Security Committee chaired by the Deputy Governor, Engr. Idris Muhammad Gobir. The committee comprises traditional rulers, community leaders, and heads of security agencies. It meets regularly to assess threats and propose actions, many of which the government has already implemented,” he said.
Usman highlighted the establishment of an air surveillance component under Operation Fansan Yamma, which has enabled rapid response across difficult terrains, as another turning point in the state’s fight against insecurity.
He also praised the success of Operation Restore Order, a multi-agency task force made up of the Nigerian Army, Police, DSS, NSCDC, the Community Guard Corps, and local vigilantes.
The task force recently conducted coordinated operations in some of the most volatile areas of the state.
He said troops operating in Gundumi Forest in Goronyo Local Government Area intercepted logistics couriers and recovered motorcycles, medical supplies, and weapons. A follow-up operation in Indulumu Village neutralised six armed bandits and led to the seizure of rifles and combat gear.
On May 25, a coordinated assault in Kakara Forest of Isa Local Government Area resulted in the elimination of 10 bandits and the recovery of four AK-47 rifles and ammunition. Raids also extended into neighbouring villages including Takalmawa, Tapkin Fili, and Garin Shado.
Usman said the success of these missions was due to a hybrid approach combining conventional security forces, local vigilantes, and intelligence from residents.
“The collaborative model we’ve adopted is working,” he noted. “We commend the Sokoto State Government for its continued support.”
He urged residents to remain vigilant and continue supporting security agencies with useful information. “Community involvement remains key. We must not relent,” he said.
Governor Aliyu, in a statement marking his second year in office, reaffirmed his commitment to sustaining peace across the state.
“We will not rest until every citizen in Sokoto sleeps in peace. Security is not just a policy—it is a promise we made and one we intend to keep,” the governor said.
He added that his administration would continue to consolidate the gains already made.
“We are entering our third year with renewed commitment. What we have built will be strengthened. What we haven’t done yet, we will do with even more determination,” he said.
With continued state support, active community participation, and improved inter-agency collaboration, Sokoto’s security outlook is steadily improving.
“If we maintain this level of coordination, Sokoto will not only be secure, but it will serve as a model for other states,” Usman stated.
