Bauchi: Rising Tensions And The Test Of Capable Leadership

The Bauchi state governor, Gov. Bala Mohammed, Kauran Bauchi had announced that there are at least 10,000 armed bandits attacking villages and communities in Alkaleri local govt area of the state. Gov. Mohammed said this when he visited the IDPs who had fled the Mansur, Yalau, Futuk, Duguri, and Gwana communities of Alkaleri local govt. The governor described the situation as very bad. During the visit, he appealed for help from the federal govt adding that the bandits are recruiting outsiders and locals especially illegal miners. Gov. Mohammed said he was going to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to get the requisite presidential approvals for the military and the police to launch an all-out offensive on the bandits. He also announced that the state govt was recruiting 2,000 youths into vigilante groups to be trained as forest guards. The Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Sani Omolori Aliyu also assured that more personnel have been deployed to the area to improve the security situation.

Bauchi under the leadership of Kaura (Gov. Bala Mohammed) has had quite a degree of stability in terms of security despite being at the base of the Boko Haram war theatre with most of its neighbouring north-eastern states afflicted by war and terrorism. Infact it has served as a haven for displaced citizens from Yobe, Borno, and as far as Taraba states. This sudden rise in population has necessitated the improvement and expansion of the state’s infrastructure. This has taken place in the last 6 years and the transformation of ancient Bauchi town into a more urbane environment has been well noted by the federal govt., and ofcourse Bauchi’s citizens. The governor has won several awards for good governance, rural and urban development for a good three years – awards given by the federal govt. I promise you that if you’ve not visited Bauchi for a year or two, you will definitely lose your way around town. The transformation is massive and visible for all to see. I was at the Bauchi state 50th anniversary dinner two weeks ago and I was amazed by the International Conference Centre built just adjacent to the newly built govt house.

For Bauchi, the burgeoning population along with infrastructural development has come with its attendant challenges. The governor’s plea for security support signals the rise and strength of the bandits regrouping in Alkaleri local govt of Bauchi state. State vigilante groups along with state security operatives have had several face-offs and battles in Alkaleri and environs and have managed to maintain peace and order in the area. Rising tensions in the area have been heralded by the discovery of fossil fuels and other mineral resources. Alkaleri is rich in oil. It is rich in Kaolin, Gypsum, Limestone, and Galena (lead/zinc). It is also rich in industrial minerals and gemstones. Alkaleri has huge quantities of mica, feldspar, quartz, and a variety of precious stones. Local governments with sought-after mineral resources have become havens for terrorism. This has been the story of states like Zamfara with huge gold deposits. Unfortunately, Alkaleri has joined the fray.

Some may want to politicise the security situation in Bauchi but indigenes of the state are well aware of the challenges faced in Alkaleri local govt. Citizens are also well aware of the efforts of the state govt in securing the area and containing the threat posed by these bandits. Banditry has become more sophisticated over the years and it is only prudent for the governor to seek federal firepower as the bandits grow in size and ammunition. Their game is to chase away inhabitants which would give them the freedom to mine the minerals in those localities. They have tasted blood in Alkaleri and are camping there to keep extracting minerals from the area with ease. The US has recently accused China of promoting these illegal miners and even though unsubstantiated, the minerals are definitely not being processed locally but flown out of the country to foreign nations with the necessary processing capabilities.

I am certain that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will support Gov. Bala Mohammed’s quest to restore peace and order in Alkaleri. The two have had quite a pragmatic relationship which is usual with politicians from different political parties. They will be working closely together for the interest of the government’s number one priority; which is the preservation of the security of lives and property. It will also be interesting to see if the Federal govt can leverage on the technical and intelligence sharing support of the US security officials who camped in Bauchi airport. The deployment of drones and satellite resources for ISR (Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) will be hugely instrumental if the bandits are to be properly flushed out from the area. The land is massive, adjoining the Yankari Game Reserve, so skirmishes or battles here and there will not solve the problem. It is also important that locals who know the terrain very well are incorporated into the vigilante teams as promised by the governor. As citizens of the state, we are prayerful that our governors’ efforts in terms of security will continue to yield positive results. We are also hopeful that President Tinubu’s support with federal firepower will be very instrumental in making the challenges in Alkaleri a thing of the past. Whispers have it that Mr. President is wooing Kaura to the APC. The security cooperation at hand holds all the cards to make it possible.