By Queen Kunde
In his continuous effort to promote peace and security in Taraba State, the Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC,Taraba State Command, Commandant Adamu Salihu, today visited the state leaders of the Muslim Council and C.A.N in Jalingo, the state capital.
Commandant Adamu said the aim of the visit is to sustain the gains recorded by security agencies in the state in their fight against all forms of criminality.
This is contained in a press statement signed by the Command’s Spokesman SC Iliya Samaila and issued to Jalingo Times.
The Commandant who said the state has enjoyed peace and security in recent months, hence the need to maintain the status quo, urged the two major religious bodies to preach and entrench peace in the hearts of their followers.
He applauded the Muslim Council for its role in maintaining peace and order saying it is an injunction that Muslims should imbibe the culture of peace as lives thrive when there is peace.
Commandant added that the administration of His Excellency Dr Agbu Kefas is giving security the much-needed attention it deserves. Therefore, everyone must contribute in one way or the other.
In his response, the Chairman of the Muslim Council Taraba State, Sheik Bashir Hammanadama assured that, the Council as an umbrella body for all Muslim groups will continue to foster peace among Muslims and their neighbours as well as encouraging Muslims to be law-abiding and obedient to their government at all levels.
According to him, ” In the past, we have settled many issues that could have resulted in a serious crisis in the state. Therefore, we are not new to peace building”.
Sheik Hammanadama promised to work with the NSCDC to nib crisis and criminality in the bud, assured the Commandant that his organisation will share important information with the Corps and also seek assistance from the Corps to tackle certain issues whenever the arises.
He thanked the Commandant for the visit and prayed for Allah’s guidance and blessings over him and the Corps in general.
At the C.A.N Secretariat, Commandant Adamu Salihu reiterated the important role of religious bodies like the C.A.N in peacebuilding and advocacy.
He said the religious bodies are closer to the people than the security personnel, and therefore, they must leverage that important fact to have first-hand security information from the people, which, in turn, they should share with the security agencies who are responsible for keeping the society safe.
Commandant Adamu explained that the NSCDC has the mandate of monitoring religious bodies and trade unions as enshrined in the NSCDC ACT 2007, Section 3, Sub-section g, and on that note, he pleaded with the C.A.N executives to collaborate with the NSCDC in fishing out bad eggs preaching disunity and chaos among them and even those from other religions to forestall the possible outbreak of religious violence in the state.
Responding, the C.A.N Chairman Isaiah Magaji Jirapye, represented by the Youth Wing C.A.N (YOWICAN) Chairman Evang. Ephesians Jesse, lauded the initiative taken by the State Commandant to bring all religious bodies under one umbrella to fight against insecurity in the land.
Evang. Jesse promised the full cooperation of C.A.N and its teaming youths in every effort put in place by the government and its security agencies to bring lasting peace to all areas battling with insecurity in Taraba State.
” We are happy that you have taken your time to visit us and also the Muslim Council, that shows how much premium you place on the security of our people. I want to advise that we should be having more of this interface quarterly together with our Muslim brothers as this will further encourage unity among our people and eliminate our differences”, he added.
Highlights of the visits was the presentation of copies of the NSCDC Acts (2003) and (2007) by the Commandant to the C.A.N Chairman and the Chairman of Muslim Council.
Prayers were then offered for the peace and security of the state as well as for God’s guidance and protection over the Commandant and his entourage.
