Protests: Gombe Governor Holds Expanded Security Council Meeting

In response to the violent protest that erupted on August 1, 2024, Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, presided over an emergency expanded security meeting on Monday to review the situation and develop a coordinated strategy to prevent further occurrences.

The high-level meeting, which brought together heads of security agencies, relevant Commissioners, local government chairmen, and traditional rulers, focused on reviewing the security situation in the aftermath of the protests and various measures to prevent future occurrences and ensure the safety of residents across the state.
Addressing the press after the meeting, the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, alongside the Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Usman and heads of other security agencies, provided details of the deliberations.

The SSG said, “The government recognizes that the protest was primarily driven by economic hardship. We are deeply concerned about the welfare of our citizens and are committed to addressing these issues promptly. We acknowledge that security is everybody’s business and therefore urge members of the public to remain supportive of the government and the security agencies in ensuring security of lives and property.”

“As part of renewed efforts to address the hardships, the government plans to roll out another round of food palliatives to support vulnerable households across the state. This initiative, the 19th in the series, aims to provide immediate relief and ensure that no resident goes hungry during these trying times”, the SSG announced.

In response to public concerns about the activities of scrap materials merchants, popularly known as Bola—Jari, the SSG disclosed that Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has directed the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Zubair Muhammad Umar will work out operational modalities to regulate their activities in the state.

The SSG said the council commended the security agencies for their prompt intervention in tackling the situation and preventing escalation and Governor Inuwa Yahaya for showing exemplary leadership during and after the protests.

The commissioner of Police, Hayatu Usman psc, who spoke on behalf of the security agencies, reiterated their commitment to maintaining law and order, assuring residents of their safety while urging the public to remain calm and peaceful. He emphasized that security forces are on high alert to prevent further breaches of law and order.

“We are committed to ensuring the safety of lives and property. We urge all residents to cooperate with the authorities and avoid any actions that could lead to violence or disruption. We cannot allow any actions that are capable of jeopardizing our peace. We are not against any protest as far as it follows the rules”, the CP said.

The CP added that the security agencies have made several arrests in connection with the looting of both public and private properties during the violent protests, disclosing that several valuable items have been recovered. He urged those who lost property to report to the police headquarters to verify if their items were among those recovered for immediate handover.