Spare no criminals in Bauchi, gov tells soldiers

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has directed troops to leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of criminals operating within the state. During a meeting with Major General Maxwell Dangana, the new General Officer Commanding of the Nigerian Army's 3 Division and Commander of Operation Safe Haven/Operation Enduring Peace, Mohammed emphasized the need for intensified intelligence gathering.

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Your visit is very timely and very auspicious to us. This has sent a clear message to criminal elements that Bauchi State will never be a safe haven for them and, by extension, the country.

The governor expressed concern that Bauchi's hard-won peace is threatened by criminal activities, particularly illegal mining. He identified this as a significant factor fueling terrorism and insecurity, with criminal networks using mining to finance violence in rural areas. Mohammed warned that these activities disrupt food security and economic stability by displacing communities and preventing farmers from accessing their land.

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I want to state unequivocally that the Bauchi State Government has absolute confidence in the capacity, discipline and bravery of the Nigerian Army.

Mohammed affirmed the state government's unwavering commitment to supporting security agencies in their fight against insecurity. He called for strengthened collaboration among states sharing borders to effectively neutralize banditry and dismantle illegal mining cartels. The governor made it clear that no one, not even his own son, would be spared if involved in illegal mining, urging decisive action against all criminal elements.

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Criminal elements, bandits and illegal miners are perpetrating crimes in our land. Innocent citizens are being driven from their homes. Our farmers are being terrorised on their farmlands. This is a direct threat to our food security and our economic survival.