Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to restoring peace in Sakaba Local Government Area and the wider Zuru Emirate following recent security incidents. During a condolence visit, he announced plans to strengthen security infrastructure, including upgrading Zuru Barracks, providing operational vehicles and extending relief assistance to internally displaced persons.
Kebbi State Governor Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to restoring lasting peace and security in Sakaba Local Government Area and the wider Zuru Emirate following recent security incidents. The governor gave the assurance during a condolence visit to residents affected by the situation, where he said the government was taking measures intended to protect lives, secure communities and enable farmers to return safely to their fields. His remarks placed the safety of residents and the ability to resume agricultural activity at the centre of the government’s response. Idris said the security difficulties predated his administration and had been inherited, while acknowledging that insecurity remained a challenge across Nigeria. He nevertheless maintained that his government had made sacrifices and investments to confront criminal activity in Kebbi. The visit combined expressions of sympathy with commitments concerning security facilities, operational support, cooperation among levels of government and further relief for internally displaced persons. The statement did not provide a timetable for all proposed measures or quantify the resources allocated to them.
The governor said security personnel and local vigilantes had paid a heavy price in confronting criminal elements, noting that officers had been killed while protecting communities. He appealed to residents to support security agencies, pray for peace and avoid statements or actions that could spread fear or assist criminals. The appeal presented public cooperation as part of the response, alongside the work of formal security institutions. Idris also called on political actors to avoid politicising the security situation, arguing that the protection of residents should be treated as a shared responsibility. He urged people across political parties to remain peaceful and law-abiding and said the government would follow due process in dealing with anyone found to have broken the law. These remarks reflect the governor’s stated approach to public communication and security response; they do not establish the outcome of any investigation into the recent incidents. The statement did not identify suspects, detail the nature of each attack, report arrests or provide a comprehensive account of casualties and property losses.
Among the infrastructure measures disclosed by Idris was the upgrading of Zuru Barracks, which he said would accommodate a substantial number of security personnel. The state government would also provide operational vehicles and other support intended to strengthen security personnel’s capacity. The governor did not specify the number of personnel the facilities would accommodate, the scale of the proposed upgrade, the procurement cost of vehicles or the date on which the work would be completed. The announcement therefore establishes a commitment to improve facilities and operational support rather than confirmation that all improvements have been delivered. Idris also said the challenge required collaboration between the Federal Government, state government and local governments. He pledged that Kebbi would complement federal efforts wherever necessary, saying the objective was to enable residents to sleep without fear and allow farmers to return to their fields. The statement referred to a Forward Operating Base in the affected area, with the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs later saying the governor had directed security deployments and establishment of the base. No operational details were provided about its current staffing or readiness.
The governor also pledged additional relief assistance for internally displaced persons in the area. The announcement did not specify the number of people eligible for assistance, the form of relief, the value of the proposed support or the distribution schedule. It nevertheless places displacement and humanitarian needs alongside the security response. Earlier in the visit, Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Salihu Mai Kasuwa Dangoje commended Idris for visiting Sakaba and sympathising with residents. Dangoje said the security challenge predated the current administration and recalled that the area had enjoyed nearly three years of relative peace under Idris before the recent resurgence. Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs Alhaji Haliru Aliyu Wasagu also said the government had taken immediate steps, including directing deployment of security personnel and the establishment of a Forward Operating Base. He urged residents to unite against insecurity. Wasagu criticised statements attributed to ADC governorship candidate Abubakar Malami, SAN, describing them as inflammatory and politically motivated. These are the commissioner’s claims and characterisations; the statement does not independently establish the disputed political assertions.
The Emir of Zuru, Alhaji Sanusi Mikailu Sami, commended the governor’s approach to security in Sakaba and the wider emirate and prayed for a return to lasting peace. Sakaba Local Government Chairman Alhaji Dauda Muhammad Sakaba also thanked the governor for his visit and continued support, describing security as a collective responsibility. Their responses show that traditional and local government representatives were involved in the public engagement, although the account does not record a separate agreement or formal resolution adopted at the visit. The immediate commitments documented are the proposed upgrading of Zuru Barracks, provision of operational vehicles and other support, continued collaboration with federal and local authorities, deployment-related measures described by the commissioner, and additional relief assistance for displaced people. The government did not announce a definitive date for the restoration of normal activity or confirm that farmers had already returned safely to all affected areas. As of October 9, 2026, the Kebbi government publication records the governor’s renewed pledge and the measures described by state officials; their effectiveness will depend on implementation and subsequent security developments.