Sokoto: Governor Aliyu’s security progress

Sokoto State, in the north-west of Nigeria, has been one of the states in the eye of the storm of insecurity, especially the nefarious activities of bandits who have, before now, established a reign of terror on the population, mostly villagers, kidnapping for ransom, stealing livestock and carrying away anything of value as well as imposing silence or protection money on communities.

Well, this situation has subsided substantially and it is all thanks to Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s deliberate and unflinching investment in both the well-being and logistics of security agencies operating in Sokoto State. These range from operational/logistical vehicles, to improved welfare packages, which combine to boost the morale of frontline troops.

It was, therefore, true to this mandate that the Sokoto State Government recently approved the purchase of 30 operational security vehicles at a cost of $1.59 billion. This was obviously aimed at supporting state security agencies in their fight against banditry and other criminal activities.

Since he came on board, the state government under Governor Aliyu has been steadfast in its support to security agencies and the procurement of vehicles to aid logistics has been a constant feature. In just under four years, over 200 patrol vehicles and 62 armored vehicles have so far been procured and distributed to the state security agencies to strengthen the operational efficiency of the security agencies to support the war against banditry and other criminals. But the vehicles are only part of the story.

Since the beginning of the administration, there has been a deliberate attempt to address the mobility gap that has often weakened the ability of security agencies to quickly respond to attacks in remote communities. The administration also established the Sokoto State Community Guard Corps – a community-wide security initiative – and began equipping it for operations in the 13 local government areas most affected by banditry.

The Community Guard Corps is important because of the peculiar nature of insecurity in Sokoto. Bandits do not only operate around urban centers where conventional security formations are readily available. They operate in difficult rural terrain, villages and farming communities where response times can make the difference between preventing an attack and arriving after the damage has been done. The state then provided the corps with vehicles and motorcycles, while also providing office accommodation at the state and local levels.

By September 2024, 20 Hilux vans and 710 motorcycles had been delivered to the Community Guard for deployment in affected local government areas. The intervention was designed to enable community guards to penetrate areas where conventional security agencies may not immediately reach, complementing rather than replacing conventional security architecture.

That same thinking continued to shape the administration’s security policy.

In 2025, the government procured and distributed 140 patrol vehicles to security agencies and increased allowances for personnel deployed in high-risk areas. It also upgraded the DSS tracking system to 5G technology, provided motorcycles to DSS officers, and pushed ahead with the construction of a military base in Illela Local Government Area as part of efforts to strengthen security presence in frontline areas.

There has also been an effort to operationalize an air force base in Sokoto. This is significant because the fight against banditry in the North West is increasingly reliant on intelligence, surveillance, mobility and the ability to move quickly between communities and challenging terrain.

Restoration and upward review of allowances for security personnel employed in volatile areas is another aspect that deserves attention. It may not make as much noise as commissioning a new vehicle, but it’s important. Security personnel deployed for extended periods in difficult and dangerous locations need more than just equipment; their well-being impacts morale and operational effectiveness.

The governor has equally placed considerable emphasis on intelligence gathering and information sharing. In his 2026 security blueprint, he specifically identified logistics, intelligence gathering and sharing as areas where the state intends to strengthen its support to security agencies. This is perhaps one of the most important changes in the administration’s approach because banditry cannot be effectively addressed by waiting for criminals to attack before responding.

The government has therefore repeatedly called on residents, particularly those in rural communities, to report suspicious movements and people to security agencies. In September 2025, Governor Aliyu specifically identified the activities of informants as a major concern and directed security agencies to deal with those aiding bandits. He also called on imams and community leaders to sensitize their followers against supporting criminal elements.

The political direction is clear; the administration sees security as something that must be fought on both sides, through the deployment of men and equipment and through the disruption of local information and support networks that make banditry possible.

The administration also continued to support communities affected by the attacks. After the Silame attack in 2025, for example, the families of the 33 victims were given $2 million each, along with food. Such interventions will not stop a bandit attack, but they will provide immediate relief to families who have lost their breadwinners and demonstrate that government intervention does not end with the deployment of security personnel.

More importantly, the government continued to link security with development. A community cannot be considered truly safe if its inhabitants cannot farm, trade, go to markets or return to their ancestral homes.

The broader infrastructure program then becomes part of the security conversation. Roads, health facilities, schools, water projects and other public infrastructure enhance government presence and make it easier for people and legitimate economic activities to return to communities weakened by insecurity. The administration has also pursued youth empowerment and initiatives such as the Neighborhood Initiative and Sokoto Marshall, designed to provide productive engagements while supporting conventional security structures in areas such as traffic regulation, fire control, and community management.

The most important point, however, is that the administration did not treat security as a one-off project. Since 2023 the scheme has been that of continuous intervention; vehicles, motorcycles, allowances, community guards, intelligence support, military infrastructure and, most recently, armored vehicles and another 1,000 motorcycles.

In July 2026, the state government again provided operational vehicles to security agencies, while in August it approved 1.759 billion naira for 1,000 Bajaj motorcycles to supplement the 62 armored vehicles worth 27 billion naira.

And just this week, Governor Aliyu again declared that the fight will continue until displaced people are able to return to their ancestral homes, recalling recent operations in Rabah, Tureta and Kebbe where security agencies rescued prisoners and recovered thousands of stolen livestock.

This is not to say that Sokoto is now free from banditry. It’s not. Recent reports of attacks, kidnappings and renewed threats in some parts of the state are a reminder that the problem remains. However, what is difficult to ignore is the consistency of the investment.

For an administration that operates within a constitutional framework in which the military and police remain federal institutions, Sokoto has chosen to invest its resources in supporting agencies that are constitutionally responsible for security by building complementary grassroots structures around them.

And perhaps this is the true story of Governor Aliyu’s security policy in Sokoto; not that banditry has disappeared, but that the State has continued to invest in the men, equipment, intelligence, infrastructure and community structures needed to continue to push back criminals and create the conditions for normal life to return to affected communities.

Sale writes from Sokoto