Mohamed Garba
The Sokoto State Government has issued a stern reminder that security is an exclusive preserve of the state, cautioning political actors against unilateral deployments of armed groups.
In a statement signed by Colonel Ahmed Usman (rtd), Special Adviser on Security Matters to Governor Ahmed Aliyu, the administration decried a recent attempt by a serving senator to bring in members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) from Borno without official approval, branding the act “dangerous and counterproductive.”
In the statement released on May 16, 2025, Colonel Usman emphasized that while the fight against insecurity demands collective effort, any “self-help” initiative taken without the state’s knowledge or consent risks undermining public peace and order. He warned that the state welcomes genuine peace-building efforts, provided they follow established legal channels and align with Sokoto’s security architecture.
The immediate catalyst for the warning was an incident in which an undisclosed senator allegedly attempted to deploy members of the Civilian Joint Task Force—originally formed in Borno State to counter Boko Haram—into Sokoto State without prior clearance from relevant authorities.
The CJTF is a community-based vigilante group that assists the military with intelligence and combat operations against insurgents; it numbers over 26,000 in the northeast, although only a fraction receive formal salaries.
Sokoto operates under Security Challenges Order No. 3 of 2021, which vests the state government with exclusive authority to regulate all security initiatives within its borders.
The state has also bolstered its security architecture by establishing the Sokoto State Hisbah Command and the Sokoto Community Guard—two home-grown bodies that integrate religious norms and community vigilance into formal security efforts. Together with federal agencies such as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Sokoto’s government insists on strict adherence to institutional protocols in combating banditry and unrest.
Colonel Usman emphasized that “security is far too sensitive to be politicized or manipulated for cheap political gains,” adding that no individual has the legal mandate to recruit or deploy armed groups—referred to locally as “Yansakai”—without state approval. Similar warnings have been sounded in recent months, urging residents to avoid sensational or inflammatory statements that could derail ongoing security operations.
The government made clear that any further breaches of security protocols will attract “strict consequences,” though it stopped short of specifying exact penalties. This reveals Sokoto’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property through formal channels, warning that vigilantism outside the legal framework poses a serious threat to the rule of law.
Reiterating Governor Aliyu’s call for cooperation and patience, the statement urged all stakeholders—traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society groups, and political officeholders—to channel any security-related initiatives through established government and security agency structures.
Only by pooling resources and respecting procedural safeguards, Sokoto maintains, can lasting peace and stability be achieved.
