*It is not only me that is helpless. All the governors in Nigeria are helpless. And that is why we are saying give us state police, says Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State

Alexander Davis | 绿帽献妻

Citing Nigeria鈥檚 security architecture does not leave enough room for the state governors to deal decisively with criminality in their enclaves, Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State has affirmed that the country鈥檚 36 governors are helpless when it comes to tackling insecurity issues across the country.

Governor Ishaku stated this position while appearing as a guest on Channels TV programme monitored Thursday, November 18, 2021, in Lagos.

The Taraba State Chief Executive noted he is of the opinion that the country鈥檚 security structure as stated in the Constitution does now give adequate latitude for governors to deal decisively with criminality in their respective states.

The powers have been vested in the Federal Government, said Governor Ishaku.

He lamented: 鈥淚t is not only me that is helpless. All the governors in Nigeria are helpless. And that is why we are saying give us state police,鈥� Ishaku lamented.

His comments were in response to a recent attack in Taraba by some suspected Ambazonian soldiers from the Republic of Cameroon.

Recall the foreign soldiers reportedly stormed Manga village, in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State, Wednesday, November 17, killing 11 people including a traditional ruler in the area.

Takum Local Government Area is a border community between Taraba State and the Republic of Cameroon.

Ishaku said of the incident that he had complained severally to the Nigerian military, seeking help to secure the border in Taraba State.

Accoridng to him, all his pleas have gone unheard for quite a while, leaving the community prone to attacks such as was recently experienced.

The governor stated that there is little a governor can do in such a case, especially because he does not control the armed forces, neither does he have a state police force specifically put together for the service of the Taraba people.

He as well stated: 鈥淚f I have state police, I would have ordered the police. All the governors are helpless, not only Darius Ishaku that is helpless; not only Taraba State that is helpless. Go and ask other governors and tell me any who has a solution to this. We have to depend on Federal might.鈥�

However, going forward, Ishaku urged the Military to help man Taraba鈥檚 鈥榣ong-stretch鈥� border with Cameroon.

He said:聽 鈥淭araba has one of the longest borders with Cameroon. There is an absolute need that this our boundary must be manned by security agencies. The Military, precisely, must man it,鈥� the governor argued.

鈥淏ecause they (the separatists) are well armed, they are a separatist group, and when they kill, they run away. So it is not an easy thing, it has to be the military to man the border.鈥�

He also added that after Wednesday鈥檚 attack, the Nigerian Military and Police have now moved into the attacked community.

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