Security situation in Gombe: Anxiety on influx of Boko Haram from neighbouring States.

[FMINigeria]

By Hamisu M.M.

Gombe State was carved out from Bauchi State on the 1st October, 1996 by the former Head of State, the Late General Sani Abacha.

The State is in the centre of the North East geographical zone of Nigeria.  It shares common boundaries with Adamawa and Taraba States to the South, Bauchi State to the West, Borno State to the East and Yobe State to the North.

It has a population of over two million people and has eleven local government area councils. Gombe State is mainly an agrarian state and has a vibrant civil service.  The official spoken languages are English and Hausa and it is a multi-ethnic society.  Local Languages spoken are Hausa, Fulfulde, Tangale, Tera and Kanuri.  Other languages spoken include Waja, Bolewa, Jukun, Tula, Cham, Dadiya, Pero, Lunguda, kamo and Awak.

Gombe State is made up of people of diverse ethnic groups and they are believed to have originated from the (Yemen) Middle-East.  They migrated to their present locations through the Lake Chad region.  The period of migration and final arrival at their present locations however, varies among the ethnic groups.  But, there is general agreement that the migration occurred during the turbulent years of the Kanem Borno Empire and completed during the Fulani jihad of the 19th Century.

Since the creation of Gombe State, the people have been enjoying peace and security; there is adequate presence of the Nigerian police, army, civil defense and other related security agencies which guarantee absolute safely of lives and properties.

In this regard, due to the peaceful co-existence among the multi- ethnic and multi-tribal and religious groups, Gombe State is now experiencing movement and migration of different people from all bordering States and other States within Nigeria.

As part of the ethnic compositions in Gombe are the major tribes such as Fulani, Tangale, Waja, Bolawa, Tera, Jukun Jara, pero, Tula, and Chamawa. Others include Lunguda, Dadiya, Kamo, Awak, Kanuri, Hausa as well as Yoruba and Igbo among others.

The real issues however, following the state of security challenges being faced by North–East sub region from 2009 to date, this relative peaceful coexistence and relative security in Gombe State is facing a threat, if proper and adequate security measures are not put in place.

Following the series of attacks on Borno, Yobe and Adamawa residents by the insurgent group popularly known as Boko Haram, and the recent declaration of state of emergency by President Goodluck Jonathan on these three states, Gombe State has continued to witness mass immigrants from these bordering States of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe into Gombe.

The State Government being aware of the security threat faced by Gombe residents is not resting on its oars at ensuring continued security of lives and properties of the people.  The State Government has taken proactive measures at ensuring that there is no breakdown of law and order.   To boost the capacity of law enforcement agents in the State, patrol vehicles were purchased and donated to the joint task force comprising the Army, Mobile Police and other security agencies code-named Anti-Kalare squad.   The Anti–Kalare squad keeps twenty four hour patrol and surveillance of the metropolis and Police check points are mounted at several strategic places where they conduct checks and search of all vehicles plying these routes.

Furthermore, the temporary ban on motorcycle operators from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. is still in force.  These measures have drastically reduced the spate of of attacks on security personnel and residents of Gombe.   The relationship between the State Government and security agencies in the State could best be described as cordial.  The security agencies were given necessary logistic support to perform their duties without undue interference from the Government.

To ensure the sustenance of relative peace in Gombe State, there is the need for stakeholders especially the media to continue to enlighten the public on the need for individuals to report any suspicious character within their vicinity to relevant authorities.

The ward village heads should equally make it a point of duty to thoroughly interview any new comer and properly document them before accepting them in their areas of jurisdiction.

From the foregoing, compared with its neighbours, Gombe State can rightly be described as peaceful.  However, as suggested, for this peace to be sustained, all relevant hands must be on desk.

Moreover, security should be seen as a collective responsibility rather than that of a few select individuals. The people should be made to understand that no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of chaos and insecurity. They should equally be made to understand the need for them to respect the sanctity of human life.

Hamisu M.M. is of the Federal Information Resource Centre, Gombe State.

Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria