A retired army general, Ishola Williams, has lambasted northern leaders for their alleged inaction in addressing the region’s insecurity challenges.

The general’s criticism comes amid escalating concerns over terrorism, insurgency, and banditry in the North, which have led to widespread attacks and displacement of communities

Williams, in an interview with Sunday Punch, emphasized that the situation has spiralled out of control, with bandits now operating freely and controlling large areas in the North.

He argued that this is no longer just a matter of terrorism but a more complex issue that requires a comprehensive approach.

The retired general suggested that the military’s role should be focused on protecting the territorial integrity of the country rather than pursuing bandits, which is the responsibility of the Mobile Police.

He also advocated for the separation of National Paramilitary Force from the police service, recommending that it should be an independent entity.

Williams pointed out the claims of collusion between security agencies and bandits, saying, “Do they have the will to face the bandits and defeat them? For me, if they don’t have the will, it simply means they are useless.”

He emphasized that the military’s primary role is to protect the country’s territorial integrity, not to engage in internal counterterrorism operations.

Williams proposed strengthening paramilitary police forces, such as the mobile police, to combat insurgency effectively.

He criticized the reliance on the military to perform roles meant for specialized agencies and called for the restructuring of the Nigeria Police Force.

“The military is doing the job of the mobile police,” Williams said.

“The mobile police was created separately from the regular police, with a different uniform and training, to carry guns like soldiers and fight bandits, kidnappers, and insurgents.”

Williams also addressed the political dimensions of insecurity, advocating for political solutions alongside military efforts. He suggested that releasing IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu and engaging regional leaders could quell unrest in the South-East. “The killings and attacks will stop if a political solution is found,” he asserted.

In the northern security crisis, Williams blamed governors for their inaction, particularly regarding the Almajiri system and the influence of traditional rulers. He cited instances of collaboration between traditional leaders and bandits, saying, “They (Governors) are not serious. If they can not take care of Almajiri, can they take care of the terrorists?

In a significant move to tackle the issue of out-of-school children, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is set to launch the distribution of school uniforms for Primary 1 pupils across the state. The event is scheduled for Monday, January 13, 2025, at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano.

The initiative, part of the administration’s commitment to addressing the problem of out-of-school children, will see over 789,000 male and female pupils in 7,092 public schools across the 44 Local Government Areas in the state receive sets of uniforms. This effort aims to promote school enrollment and ensure that every child of school age has the opportunity to access quality education, thereby reducing the number of out-of-school children in Kano.

Governor Yusuf’s administration recognizes the financial challenges faced by indigent parents in meeting the educational needs of their children. By providing school uniforms, the government aims to support these families and demonstrate that education remains a cornerstone of its agenda for even development across the state.

“By prioritizing the needs of young learners, the government seeks to empower the next generation with the tools they need to succeed and contribute positively to society,” stated Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, Commissioner of Information and Internal Affairs, in the press release.

The official launch event will take place at 1:00 pm, with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf personally overseeing the distribution process. This gesture underscores the administration’s dedication to improving educational access and outcomes for all children in Kano State.

The People’s Redemption Party (PRP) has extended its congratulations to Nigerians on the occasion of the New Year, expressing hopes for better days ahead. In a press release signed by Abba Sule Namatazu, National Vice Chairman (North-West), the PRP highlighted the challenges faced by Nigerians in 2024 and called for improved governance and accountability.

“The PRP wishes to use this opportunity to congratulate Nigerians on the occasion of a happy New Year. May our days be long to witness and celebrate many more new years in good health and prosperity,” the statement read.

Reflecting on the past year, the PRP noted that 2024 had been a trying period for many Nigerian families and businesses, with the standard of living plummeting nationwide and the nation’s currency nose-diving against benchmark currencies. “2024 has been a trying period for many Nigerian families and businesses as the standard of living plummets nationwide and the nation’s currency nose-dived against the benchmark currencies; poverty, insecurity, and chaos spread,” the PRP stated.

The party saluted the courage and resilience of Nigerian families and prayed for better days ahead. “We salute the courage and resilience of Nigerian families and pray for better days ahead,” the statement added.

The PRP emphasized that Nigerians deserve a much better standard of living, given the country’s 64 years of self-rule and 25 years of uninterrupted democracy. “Having attained 64 years of self-rule and 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, the PRP believes that Nigerians deserve a much better standard of living than what it is today where basic necessities of life are beyond the reach of many families,” the party asserted.

The PRP criticized the poor quality of leadership since 1999, attributing Nigeria’s status as the “poverty capital of the world” to self-serving, inept, and visionless leaders. “It is unacceptable that in 25 years of uninterrupted democratic rule, Nigeria has become the ‘poverty capital of the world’ where life expectancy is among the lowest in the world. Nigeria has one of the highest infant mortality rates and has consistently featured at the apex of the global corruption index and at the bottom of the human development index. This is attributable to poor quality of leadership since 1999,” the PRP stated.

The party also expressed concern over plans by some states and the federal government to privatize public schools, warning that such moves would result in more youths being out of school and turning to crime. “The PRP is also aware of plans by some states and federal governments to privatize the few public schools in the country which will result in sending more youths out of school, and into the world of hopelessness and crime,” the statement read.

Addressing the issue of insecurity, the PRP called for a concerted effort involving all stakeholders to confront the problem head-on. “The spreading insecurity bedeviling some states is a cause for concern not only to the affected states but to the country as a whole and the sub-region in general,” the PRP noted.

The party also criticized the government’s handling of the minimum wage issue, urging stakeholders to begin implementing the minimum wage to avert possible industrial action. “We are disappointed that more than a year since the beginning of agitation for salary increase, and months after the passage of the national assembly act on minimum wage, neither the government nor the private sector has fully implemented it,” the PRP stated.

The PRP called on the federal government to rescind policies that resulted in high prices of petroleum products and increased poverty, advocating for the ban of imported petroleum derivatives that can be produced locally. “The recent increase in prices of petrol and other petroleum derivatives has brought the economy to its knees,” the party asserted.

In conclusion, the PRP urged Nigerians to demand good governance and accountability from their leaders and to fully participate in the democratic process. “We call on Nigerians to rise up and demand good governance and accountability from our leaders, and to discharge their responsibilities in every sphere of nation-building,” the statement concluded.