The Sokoto State Governorship Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, has expressed deep concern over what he described as attempts by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to downplay the serious security challenges confronting communities across Sokoto State. Dan’iya was reacting to remarks attributed to the Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, during his recent visit to Silame, where he reportedly dismissed claims that Sokoto was unsafe after personally driving from Sokoto metropolis to the town without encountering bandits. While welcoming every genuine effort that demonstrates that some roads and communities remain accessible, Dan’iya said one uneventful journey cannot be used to invalidate the experiences of thousands of residents who have suffered killings, kidnappings, displacement, livestock rustling and extortion.
According to Dan’iya, the reality on the ground is demonstrated by continuing incidents rather than political speeches. On Thursday, September 3, 2026, the Sokoto State Police Command confirmed that five people were killed and three injured following a bandit attack on Girkau and neighbouring communities in Kebbe Local Government Area, with residents also reporting abductions and cattle rustling. This came only days after reports that suspected bandits demanded a ₦40 million levy from residents of Kebbe town, threatening violence if the demand was not met. The police confirmed awareness of the threat and said its Anti-Kidnapping Unit was working on the intelligence, while residents have continued to appeal for stronger protection.
Dan’iya said these developments make it dangerous and insensitive for political leaders to reduce the insecurity question to whether a visitor encountered a bandit while travelling on one particular road. He recalled that recent attacks have also affected communities in Rabah, Sabon Birni and other parts of the state, with reports of killings, abductions and communities being deserted. A recent report on the security situation in northern Nigeria also placed Sokoto among the states recording the highest number of security incidents in August. “The question is not whether Governor Sule saw a bandit on his journey to Silame. The question is whether our citizens are safe in their homes, farms and communities. The answer is that many remain deeply afraid,” Dan’iya said.
The ADC candidate therefore urged Governor Ahmad Aliyu and the APC-led government in Sokoto to confront the crisis with the seriousness it deserves instead of allowing political considerations to shape the public narrative. He said the government must recognise that insecurity is not merely a question of statistics or political perception but a direct threat to lives, livelihoods, education, agriculture, investment and the future of the state. He also acknowledged the sacrifices of the military, police, civil defence personnel and other security agencies, while calling for stronger intelligence-led operations, better coordination, adequate logistics, protection of vulnerable communities and sustained action against criminal networks. “We must never confuse the absence of a bandit on one road with the absence of insecurity in the state,” he added.
Dan’iya further challenged the state government to explain what has happened to its repeated assurances and promised blueprint for tackling insecurity, insisting that the people of Sokoto deserve measurable results rather than political reassurance. He said government should listen to displaced families, farmers prevented from accessing their farms, communities facing illegal levies and families living through the trauma of kidnapping and loss. He called on the Federal Government and the Sokoto State Government to work together without partisan considerations, stressing that security should never become a campaign instrument or a subject for political denial.
The ADC governorship candidate reaffirmed his commitment to making the protection of lives and property the foremost priority of his administration if elected in 2027. He said an ADC government would adopt a community-focused and intelligence-driven security strategy, maintain direct engagement with affected communities and work closely with the Federal Government and security agencies to restore confidence, enable displaced citizens to return home and reopen the space for farming and economic activity. “Sokoto does not need anyone to tell our people that they are safe; our people need to actually be safe. Government must protect lives first, politics can come later,” Dan’iya said, urging all stakeholders to put the survival and dignity of Sokoto citizens above political interests.
