Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has vowed that his administration will not allow bandits, terrorists or criminals turn the state into a theater of insecurity. He said that a lot of investments have been made to attain the level of relative peace being enjoyed in the State.
He said this on Thursday in his speech while presenting the 2026 budget proposal estimates of over N878bn to the State House of Assembly for consideration and passage.
The Governor vowed that anyone who tries to cause any form of conflict in the state will face the full wrath of the law.
He said: “I appreciate the Federal Government and all the security agencies for their partnership. At the same time, let me issue a very clear and an unambiguous warning, Bauchi has sacrificed a lot to attain the current level of peace and stability. Therefore, we will not allow criminal elements, by whatever name they call themselves, to turn our state into a theater of insecurity.
“Anyone who attempts to bring banditry, kidnapping, terrorism or any other form of violent crime into Bauchi, will face the full wrath of the law, and they will have to pass through all the citizens of Bauchi, because we are all policemen today.
“I swear to you, before Almighty Allah, that anyone who tries to create conflict in this state will be dealt with decisively within the confines of the law and the institution.”
He warned traditional rulers and government officials to desist from being used to promote criminal activities by harbouring or giving cover to bandits criminals or selling of government grazing areas or reserves will be dealt with, adding that his administration will not allow forests in the state be used as a safe haven for banditry.
“I also want to call on our Emirs, traditional title holders and local government chairmen to continue to be part of the solution and never art of the problem. No traditional leader, village or local government official must partake in or tolerate criminal activities that is harbouring bandits, negotiating illegal settlements with criminals or selling community farmlands, forest reserves or grazing areas without the approval of the state government.
“Anyone found aiding abating or giving cover to criminals or illegally disposing or land and forest resources, even at the level of the Ministry of Lands, will be dealt with severely.
“We are determined to stop illegal deforestation, illegal mining, illegal charcoal production and the use of forests as hideouts for criminals.
“We will continue to balance the needs of farmers , herders, investors and future generations in a responsible manner, but we will not allow any forest, mountain or settlement in Bauchi State to become a sanctuary for bandits and other criminal elements,” he vowed.
Armstrong Bakam
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