Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed has appealed to President Bola Tinubu for immediate federal intervention to curb escalating banditry in Alkaleri Local Government Area, warning it risks exploding into a full-blown humanitarian crisis.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after a Friday meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Mohammed described how emboldened bandits have seized ungoverned forest corridors, launching sporadic attacks on communities and clashing with security forces. “The criminals are advancing from these forests, leaving residents gripped by fear,” he said.
Local security outfits, overwhelmed by the assaults, have driven many inhabitants to flee to neighboring states and local governments especially amid the ongoing fasting period.
Mohammed said he personally toured the hotspots with security chiefs, compiled a detailed report, and submitted it to Tinubu.
The governor hailed the president’s “very positive” response, noting directives already issued to security chiefs for bolstered operations. He pointed to successful efforts in Kwara and Niger states as models for tackling forest-based banditry.
Mohammed announced plans for a joint security summit with governors from Taraba, Plateau, and Gombe states sharing the affected forest belts to forge a unified strategy backed by federal agencies.
The violence resurgence, he warned, endangers over a decade of peace in Bauchi and fresh investor interest in oil, gas exploration, and mining. On state police, the governor renewed his support, arguing it would decentralize policing, boost responsiveness, and lighten federal burdens despite costs.
Dismissing rumours of defection, Mohammed insisted his PDP loyalty remains firm. “This visit was purely for governance and partnership to protect lives, property, and economic growth,” he affirmed, stressing state-federal collaboration as key to victory over insecurity.
