Kebbi rejects allegations of abandoning communities to bandits

The Kebbi State government has rejected claims that it abandoned some communities to bandits and terrorists, describing the allegations as false and politically motivated.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ahmed Idris, the government said Governor Nasir Idris was actively leading efforts to improve security by working closely with security agencies and other key stakeholders.

According to the statement, some opposition politicians were giving the public the false impression that affected communities had been abandoned.

It said, “The attention of the Kebbi State Government has been drawn to a misleading narrative being circulated by some members of the opposition, alleging that certain communities have been abandoned to bandits and terrorists.”

The government explained that security operations cannot always be made public because of their sensitive nature.

It added, “Security matters are highly sensitive, and not every strategy, intelligence-gathering effort, or operational action undertaken by government can or should be discussed publicly.”

The statement continued, “The fact that certain actions are not publicly announced does not mean that nothing is being done.”

The government insisted that Governor Idris remained committed to protecting lives and property across the state.

It said, “Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris, remains deeply committed to the safety and well-being of the people, working tirelessly every day to address security challenges across the state.”

The statement also said, “The governor is not standing on the sidelines. He is actively leading the state’s efforts against insecurity, working closely with the relevant security agencies and other critical stakeholders to safeguard lives and property.”

According to the government, its security efforts are aimed at enabling residents to go about their daily activities without fear and helping farmers return safely to their farms.

The government also urged politicians not to use insecurity for political gain, saying, “Those who seek to reduce the complex security situation in the state to political talking points should exercise greater responsibility in their public commentary.”

It added that tackling insecurity requires cooperation, intelligence, careful planning and, in some cases, confidentiality, rather than making every government action public.