Abuja: Abuja – Alarmed by escalating banditry in Bauchi’s Alkaleri axis, Governor Bala Mohammed on Friday appealed to President Bola Tinubu for urgent intervention, warning that unchecked attacks could trigger a humanitarian crisis and threaten the state’s growing investment prospects.
Mohammed made the call while briefing State House correspondents after a meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He further explained that the escalation of banditry in the Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State prompted his visit.
Providing more context, he said bandits have taken advantage of ungoverned forest spaces around the Daji Dam axis to launch attacks on communities.
As a result of these incursions, the governor noted, sporadic clashes between bandits and security agencies have erupted in the area.
He warned that the development could degenerate into a humanitarian crisis, such as the displacement of residents, shortages of food and basic services, and increased vulnerability, if urgent action was not taken.
Consequently, Mohammed noted, many residents have begun fleeing their homes to neighbouring states and local government areas out of fear of further attacks.
To better understand the situation, he said he recently visited the affected communities alongside security chiefs to assess conditions on the ground firsthand.
He said he had briefed the President and requested urgent intervention.
He added that Tinubu directed security agencies to intensify operations.
He has already given directives, and they are doing a lot of activities in Kwara and Niger where there are similar ungoverned spaces and banditry,” Mohammed said.
He said governors of Bauchi, Taraba, Plateau and Gombe were also considering a joint security summit to address threats in forest areas bordering their states.
The governor stressed that Bauchi had enjoyed relative peace for about a decade and should not be allowed to relapse into insecurity.
He noted that growing investment interest in the state, including oil, gas and mining prospects, could be threatened by insecurity.
Mohammed reiterated his support for the establishment of state police as a strategy to strengthen security architecture.
According to him, state policing will enable governors to respond more effectively to security challenges within their jurisdictions.
On politics, the governor dismissed rumours linking his visit to defection.
He said, “I am a PDP man. I came for governance and partnership, not defection.”
Mohammed said the People’s Democratic Party remained a strong national platform despite internal challenges.
He added that electoral victories are won at the grassroots, not only nationally.
