The Kebbi State Government has reaffirmed its commitment towards strengthening border security, protecting and safeguarding the lives of security personnel in the discharge of their lawful duties in the state.
The state Deputy Governor, Senator Umar Abubakar Tafida gave the assurance while delivering a keynote address during a security summit organized by the Nigeria Customs Service in Birnin Kebbi.
Senator Umar Abubakar, told participants that there is no better time than now for such strategic engagement, given the persistent security challenges confronting the Northwest region.
He noted that, threats ranging from banditry to trans-border crimes do not respect state boundaries and therefore require coordinated, intelligence-driven responses from all stakeholders.
“The collaboration is critical to improving trade facilitation, enhancing border management, and curbing illicit activities across Nigeria’s frontiers”. He added
The Deputy Governor reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to partnering with the NCS, particularly on the ongoing Tsamiya Dry Port Project in Bagudo LGA, which he described as a game-changer for the state’s economy and a strategic asset for regional security.
While commiserating with the NCS and other security services over the recent losses of officers and equipment to Lakurawa bandit attacks at various duty posts, the Deputy Governor explained that the state government will continue to support and strengthen their efforts to address insecurity in Kebbi State through improved logistics, intelligence sharing, and welfare support.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adeniyi, has called for stronger collaboration among security agencies to curb border-related crimes and promote regional stability in the North-West region.
Represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection, Mr. Timi Bomodi, said effective border security could only be achieved through coordinated action among relevant agencies.
He said the summit, themed: “Strengthening Inter-Agency Collaboration for Effective Border Security and Regional Stability,” was aimed at ensuring that all security agencies operated with a shared understanding and stronger cooperation toward effective border management and national security.
According to him, discussions at the summit will focus on intelligence-driven operations, digital integration, information sharing, and enhanced inter-agency synergy to tackle trans-border crimes and other security threats.
He said inputs from security agencies, traditional institutions, and community stakeholders would help produce practical solutions for improved border governance and a stronger security architecture in the region. He said criminal networks had become increasingly sophisticated, making closer collaboration among security agencies imperative.
Earlier, the Customs Area Controller, Kebbi Area Command, Mr. Mahmoud Ibrahim-Matawalle, said the summit was convened in response to rising security concerns across the North-West.
He identified banditry, smuggling, arms trafficking, irregular migration, and other transnational crimes as major threats requiring coordinated action by security agencies and communities.
