The insurgents, according to the intelligence reports, are planning to enter and strike Bauchi, having been pushed from their base in Sambisa forest by the renewed military onslaught.

This was disclosed during a two-day workshop on the Roles of Private Guards in Curbing Insurgency in Bauchi State organised by the state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in collaboration with the state government.

According to findings of intelligence gathering, the insurgents plan to infiltrate the state using the private guards disguised as fruits sellers, thus the workshop is to sensitise the private guards.

In his welcome address, the state commandant of the NSCDC, Mr Donatus Ikemefuna, said the people must cooperate to ward off the security challenge of insurgency not only in the country but globally.

Ikemefuna said: “As the nation is at the verge of routing out the insurgents in the North East, no stone must be left unturned to make sure ugly developments do not resurface.

“Our resolve to work together particularly in the areas of operation and intelligence-sharing will continue to form impenetrable wall against vices.

“Nigerians must support the government at this critical period by cooperating with security agencies in maintaining law and order,” he said.

In Abuja, Senate Leader, Ali Ndume and members of the Senate North-East caucus, yesterday met with the service chiefs to address the relocation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their respective local government areas in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

Ndume, who addressed the service chiefs before the parley moved into a closed session, said the meeting became necessary, following the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari that steps be taken to relocate IDPs to their local government areas.

The Senate leader, who hails from Borno, said the plan to relocate the IDPs was informed by the relative peace prevailing in Borno and Adamawa States.

The service chiefs, including Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, who was represented at the meeting, did not say anything before reporters were asked to the meeting.

He commended the state government for partnering with the NSCDC to train the Private Guards saying it was a wise decision considering the tourism potential of Bauchi State.

The NSCDC state commandant said: “On our part, officers and men of this corps will continue to be partner in progress with the government at all levels to ensure the citizens and residents in Nigeria as well as property are well protected.

“We are determined more than ever before to carry all the stakeholders along in this onerous task of having safer Nigeria”

In his remarks the Secretary to the Bauchi State Government who was represented by Alhaji Hashimu Abubakar said that security was one of the top priority of the Mohammed Abubakar-led administration.

The SSG who called for the support of all citizens in addressing the problem of insurgency said that security was a collective responsibility of every one and not the security agencies alone.

He said that the administration recognised the importance of Private Guards in assisting addressing the problem of insurgency facing the north east and assured that the state government would continue to partner with the NSCDC in order to support the Private Guards to be more efficient. (Daily Sun)

•Photo shows Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau.

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