By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
In response to the nationwide protest tagged “Take-It-Back Moment,” the Jigawa State Police Command has significantly ramped up its surveillance and intelligence operations to ensure the state’s security and stability remain intact.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Lawan Shi’isu Adam, confirmed the expanded security measures in a statement to National Update in Dutse. He emphasized that the police were fully committed to maintaining peace and preventing any unrest in the region, particularly with the nationwide protest gaining traction in some parts of the country.
“To maintain the safety of our citizens, we have bolstered our surveillance and intelligence-gathering efforts across the state,” SP Adam explained. “Our aim is to ensure that nothing disrupts the peace and security of Jigawa.”
The Police Commissioner, Ahmad Tijjani Abdullahi, reassured residents of the state, urging them to carry on with their normal activities without fear. He called on the people, especially the youth, to ignore any calls to participate in actions that could threaten the region’s stability.
“Residents, particularly the youth, are encouraged to remain calm and ignore any instigators of violence or unrest,” SP Adam reiterated. “The police, alongside other security agencies, have intensified patrols and increased the presence of operatives from the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) in the public to ensure vigilance.”
He underscored that Jigawa has long been one of the most peaceful states in the country, a status the police and other security agencies intend to preserve through effective, coordinated efforts.
“The Jigawa Police Command, under the leadership of CP Ahmad Tijjani Abdullahi, remains fully committed to protecting lives and property, ensuring that the state’s peace is never compromised,” SP Adam added. “We encourage the public to support our efforts by reporting any suspicious activities that could destabilize our harmony.”
In a related development, Comrade Muhammad Musbahu Basirka, Executive Director of the Civil Society Coalition on Security Peace and Conflict Resolution, publicly dissociated his organization from the protest, asserting that it lacked clear, legitimate objectives.
“I can confidently say there is no genuine cause for this protest, and I urge the people of Jigawa, particularly the youth, to distance themselves from it,” Basirka stated. “We have learned painful lessons from the protests in August, where innocent lives were lost and property destroyed without achieving any meaningful outcomes.”
Basirka went on to accuse the protest’s organizers of exploiting the situation for financial gain and personal recognition, while allegedly instigating youth to take part in the unrest, only to retreat to safety when things escalated.
“We must reject and ignore the calls for violence,” Basirka urged, “because this protest serves no greater purpose than the personal interests of a few individuals. It is time for us to remain united and protect the peace we have worked so hard to build.”
The Jigawa State Police, on their part, remain resolute in their mission to safeguard the peace of the state, with officials urging the public to remain alert and report any activities that may jeopardize security.