Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, on Saturday, cautioned opposition politicians against turning the issue of insecurity into a political weapon, insisting that Nigeria’s security challenges cannot be solved by “carpet-bombing” bandits out of existence.

Speaking at the public presentation of “Where I Stand,” a book written by the late Sheikh Abubakar Gumi and translated into Arabic by Sheikh Ibrahim Jalingo, the governor said politicians peddling the idea of using only force to end insecurity were “playing politics with people’s lives.”

The event, organized by Jamaátu Izalatul Bidáh Wa ‘iqamatus Sunnah in Kaduna, had Governor Sani representing President Bola Tinubu as the Special Guest of Honour while also serving as Chief Host.

“Some people think you can just deploy weapons and the problem will vanish. Whoever says this is simply playing politics. We must fear God and stop deceiving people because insecurity will not end that way,” he declared to applause from the audience.

The Governor explained that the nature of insecurity in the North-West differs from the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, noting that while Boko Haram was driven by religious extremism, banditry was largely fueled by poverty, unemployment, and the neglect of rural communities.

“Banditry is not ideological like Boko Haram. It is a symptom of poverty, youth unemployment, the absence of schools, hospitals, and economic opportunities in rural areas. These are the real issues we must address to end insecurity,” the governor said.

According to him, the government’s strategy must go beyond military firepower to tackle the socio-economic roots of the problem.

“Insecurity cannot be resolved solely through guns. Our approach must include jobs for our youth, education, and healthcare for rural communities. That is the only way to win lasting peace,” he stressed.

The governor expressed concern over the dwindling number of security personnel in the country despite its population explosion in recent decades.

“In 1970, after the civil war, Nigeria had about 300,000 soldiers. Today, the number is less than 250,000 while our population has increased by over 100 million. How can anyone say guns alone will solve the problem? It is impossible,” he lamented.

Sani described the absence of security presence in many rural parts of the North-West as alarming.

“If you travel to Zamfara, Birnin Gwari, or the forests of Katsina, you can go for 50 kilometres without seeing a single policeman, not to mention a soldier. We have vast areas in this country without any security presence at all,” he noted.

Sani explained that the Kaduna Peace Model, which relies on dialogue and community involvement, was developed by local stakeholders and had yielded positive results in some troubled areas.

“In Birnin Gwari, for instance, the Emir himself led the process of restoring peace. We spent six months studying the root causes of insecurity there before taking any action,” he said.

He added that findings from these engagements revealed that decades of neglect and lack of social amenities pushed many youths into crime.

“People in these rural communities have no schools, no hospitals, and no commerce. When young people have no hope, crime becomes the only alternative,” he noted.

Sani insisted that political leaders must take full responsibility for securing their states instead of shifting blame to the President or federal authorities.

“We should not deceive our people by saying President Tinubu or the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, is responsible for their safety. They cannot leave Abuja to come to Birnin Gwari, Giwa, or Dansadau to solve our problems,” he argued.

He maintained that leaders at the state and local government levels must work with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community stakeholders to tackle insecurity.

“We were elected by the people. It is our duty to protect them by every means possible. That is why I chose a non-kinetic approach in Kaduna State—because it is I that God will hold responsible in the hereafter,” he said.

Recall, on August 30, a coalition of opposition parties was attacked during the inauguration of a transition committee in Kaduna on Saturday, when suspected political thugs stormed the venue, wielding cutlasses, clubs, and stones, leaving participants injured and property damaged.

Former Governor Nasir El-Rufai described it as “a dangerous descent into lawlessness,” and accused police officers at the scene of standing idly by. (The PUNCH)