Expressing deep concern, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser to the President, highlighted the alarming growth of the illegal firearms market in the North during a speech on Thursday.
Addressing the convocation lecture at Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto, Ribadu emphasized the severity of the situation, particularly in the North-West, which he described as the most severely affected region by poverty.
Ribadu painted a worrying picture of the illegal arms trade, noting a significant surge in both demand and supply.
Criminal networks and traffickers, he warned, have become increasingly sophisticated in transporting illegal weapons across Nigeria, utilizing innovative methods to evade security measures.
Despite the grim assessment, Ribadu praised President Bola Tinubu’s efforts in combatting banditry and terrorism.
He highlighted achievements such as the successful liberation of over a thousand individuals, including villagers held captive for years, and the rescue of abducted students from the Federal University of Gusau and school children in Kuriga, among others.
Notably, these operations were executed without paying any ransom, relying instead on evidence-based non-kinetic strategies.
Ribadu underscored the ongoing military operations targeting insurgent groups like Boko Haram and bandits in the North, emphasizing the President’s commitment to addressing security challenges.
He acknowledged the daunting nature of the President’s role, characterizing it as demanding and requiring adeptness, hard work, and consensus-building across security and political spheres.
Highlighting the grim reality of terrorism in Nigeria, Ribadu referenced significant attacks in recent years, including assaults on the Abuja-Kaduna train, the Guards Battalion in Abuja, Kuje Prison, and a church in Owo, Ondo State.
These incidents underscored the severity of the security landscape and the urgent need for effective strategies.
Turning to the issue of poverty, Ribadu lamented the dire situation in the North, citing statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics that revealed staggering poverty rates in the North-West.
He noted that each northwestern state had a poverty rate higher than the national average, with Sokoto topping the list at an alarming 87.73 percent.
Moreover, Ribadu highlighted the disparity in unemployment rates between northern and southern regions, with the former experiencing rates exceeding 20 percent compared to 10-15 percent in the latter.
Despite these challenges, Ribadu expressed optimism about the Tinubu-led administration’s efforts to address poverty and insecurity through initiatives aimed at promoting socioeconomic development and fostering inter-communal dialogue.
Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the government aims to tackle the root causes of insecurity by addressing issues such as poverty, unemployment, social marginalization, and ethnic tensions.
Ribadu concluded by reaffirming the administration’s commitment to implementing comprehensive strategies to alleviate poverty and enhance security across the nation.
