Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has raised serious concern over worsening insecurity in parts of the state, warning that bandits have taken over several “ungoverned spaces” and that the situation may soon become a humanitarian crisis if urgent action is not taken.
The governor made the disclosure on Friday after meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Speaking to State House correspondents after the closed-door meeting, Mohammed said he visited the President to seek special federal intervention following renewed attacks in Alkaleri Local Government Area.
According to him, armed groups operating around forest areas, especially near the Daji Dam axis, have become bold and are now in control of some remote communities.
“Some bandits have become so emboldened and they have taken over so many ungoverned spaces there, coming out from the Daji Dam area,” the governor said.
He explained that although security agencies have been engaging the bandits in clashes and patrols, the scale of the attacks has stretched the capacity of the state’s existing security structure.
“We have been having sporadic clashes and skirmishes with them alongside security agencies, but it appears that all of us are overwhelmed and the situation is escalating to a level where it could become a big humanitarian crisis,” he added.
Governor Mohammed revealed that fear has gripped residents of affected communities, forcing many families to flee to safer areas within and outside the state. He said the movement of people has increased during the ongoing Ramadan fasting period.
“Out of fear and paranoia, most of the inhabitants are running to other states and other local governments at this time of fasting,” he said.
The governor noted that he had personally visited the troubled areas with heads of security agencies to assess the situation before travelling to Abuja to brief the President.
Bauchi State, located in Nigeria’s North-East region, has in recent years experienced rising security challenges. Although it is not as heavily affected as some North-West states, criminal groups operating in forest belts have increasingly expanded their reach into border communities.
Governor Mohammed said President Tinubu responded positively to his concerns and has already given directives to security agencies to intensify operations in affected areas.
“Very positive, the President has already given directives and they are carrying out operations in places like Kwara and Niger where similar issues of ungoverned spaces, forests and banditry exist,” he said.
In recent weeks, the Federal Government has stepped up military operations in states such as Kwara, Niger, Kaduna and Zamfara to combat banditry and kidnapping. The North-West and North-Central regions have been particularly affected by attacks on villages, highways and farmlands.
Banditry in northern Nigeria has led to thousands of deaths and abductions over the past decade. Armed groups often attack rural communities, kidnap residents for ransom and raid farms, disrupting livelihoods and food production.
President Tinubu has repeatedly assured Nigerians that his administration is committed to tackling insecurity. He has also called on the National Assembly to consider constitutional amendments that would allow the creation of state police, arguing that decentralised policing could help states respond more quickly to security threats.
To address the growing threat, Governor Mohammed announced plans to convene a security summit involving governors of neighbouring states that share forest borders with Bauchi.
“We are trying to seek an opportunity for governors contiguous to that forest — Taraba, Plateau, Gombe and myself — to have a summit with the aid of security agencies to address this situation once and for all,” he said.
The governor said coordinated action is necessary because bandits often move across state boundaries to escape security operations. Joint planning and intelligence sharing, he added, would strengthen efforts to clear the forest areas.
Governor Mohammed, who also chairs the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, used the opportunity to dismiss rumours that his visit to the Presidential Villa was linked to a possible defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In recent months, Nigeria’s political scene has witnessed a wave of defections, with several opposition figures joining the APC. This has led to speculation whenever opposition leaders are seen engaging closely with the federal government.
“I have always said that I am a PDP man. I understand the federal government and the importance of partnership,” Mohammed said.
“This is time for governance. I’m not coming here for defection; I’m coming here for governance and partnership. I’m coming to a father of the nation to seek support, and he has responded positively.”
When asked whether he felt isolated as a PDP governor amid recent defections, Mohammed rejected the suggestion. He pointed to the party’s performance in the recent Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections as proof that the PDP remains strong.
“PDP is still there. You saw what we did in the FCT. At least we are better than the so-called big coalition,” he said.
He added that elections are won at the grassroots level, not simply through national political alignments.
“PDP is a party that is everywhere, in every nook and corner of the country. It has a brand that has survived for over two decades. I am not feeling lonely because I know my state. Elections are won from the polling units; they are won locally and not nationally,” he said.
The security situation in Bauchi reflects broader concerns across northern Nigeria. Farmers in many communities have been unable to access their land due to fear of attacks. This has raised worries about food security, especially as inflation and high food prices continue to affect households.
Humanitarian organisations have also warned that displacement caused by insecurity could worsen living conditions for vulnerable families.
Governor Mohammed’s warning that the crisis could become humanitarian highlights the urgency of the situation. If more residents abandon their homes, local economies may suffer further strain.
