The Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, on Saturday revealed how he prevented Boko Haram from having a operating base in the state by sacking the Darul Salam sect from their Mokwa base in 2010.
According to a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Israel Ebije, the governor was proactive in sacking Darul Islam sect, where at least the key leaders of the dreaded Book Haram were once encamped.
The governor, who spoke at the Adesoye College, Offa, Kwara State at the 22nd graduation ceremony, was emphatic that governors must take security issues seriously.
He insisted that once the sect members comprising Nigerians from different states and aliens were dislodged from Niger, it was the duty of their respective states (Nigerian sect members) to put them on security watch.
“We were proactive in managing Boko Haram insurgents from having a base in Niger State. Imagine having Boko Haram in the middle of Nigeria? A governor must at all times seek ways of protecting the lives and property of people in his state”
“Security challenges therefore do not happen just like that, it takes the indulgence of some elite who are desperate to gain political advantage. It is the thugs they engage that are causing the nation serious security challenge,” he said.
While calling on Nigerian leaders to imbibe the culture of practising true democracy, devoid of thuggery, he urged schools to build future Nigerians with moral chastity and how to be goal-oriented.
He charged schools on the need to focus more on instilling moral ethos on young Nigerians towards engendering security preparedness and inspiring good leadership.