From Mohammed Nasir Shuaibu BAUCHI
The Bauchi State Government has opened a surrender window for bandits operating within and around the state, urging them to lay down their arms as part of efforts to consolidate recent security gains.
Governor Bala Mohammed while speaking at a press briefing after a closed door meeting with security agencies and traditional rulers of the affected communities, said the decision followed a major security crackdown that exposed widespread banditry across forest corridors linking Bauchi with Plateau and Taraba states.
The governor disclosed that the operation uncovered large settlements of armed groups, prompting a decisive response by security agencies through coordinated ground and aerial actions backed by intelligence.
While confirming that many of the bandit networks have been dismantled, the governor emphasised the need for a balanced approach that combines enforcement with an opportunity for rehabilitation.
“We are calling on those still in hiding to surrender within this period. This is not amnesty, but a chance to return and reintegrate under government supervision,” the governor said.
He added that arrangements are being considered to relocate those who surrender, including their families, while noting that many of the suspects are not originally from Bauchi State.
According to the governor, said “As part of broader security reforms, governor Bala Mohammed announced stricter surveillance measures, including biometric data collection, intelligence-led monitoring, and verification of activities in markets, motor parks, and public spaces.
He disclosed that the state also plans to strengthen community-based security systems by recruiting and supporting local vigilante groups to complement formal security agencies.
Bala Mohammed stressed that the new measures are aimed at preventing the creation of ungoverned spaces that could serve as safe havens for criminal elements.
The governor called on residents to cooperate with security agencies and remain vigilant, assuring that efforts are ongoing to ensure lasting peace and stability.
He used the medium to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his timely response to the matter, which helped to clamp down on the situation in the affected communities.
He further reaffirmed their commitment to working with neighbouring states and federal authorities to sustain the gains already achieved and prevent a resurgence of violence in the region.
