Zamfara State's Governor Yari drops the title chief security officer frustrated with his powerlessness

ZAMFARA State governor Abdul’aziz Yari of Zamfara said he had dropped his description as the state's chief security officer as he has no control over the security machinery and is powerless to end the ongoing killings taking place under his watch.

Nigerian state governors are tagged chief security officers but in reality, they have no power as local; police commissioners do not report to them but to the inspector-general of police in Abuja. Under the hierarchy of command, the inspector-general of police takes his orders directly from the president, leaving governors powerless to address security concerns in their states.

Over recent months, Zamfara State has been gripped by an orgy of violence as cattle rustlings and communal clashes have led to dozens if not hundreds of deaths. Governor Yari has appealed for calm but his calls have fallen on deaf ears and exasperated with his powerlessness, he has decided to drop the designation, which gives the impression he controls security.

Speaking to newsmen in Talata-Mafara yesterday, Governor Yari said that his decision stemmed from the seeming helplessness of the state government and the people over the  killings. He deplored the prevailing situation where as the chief security officer of the state, he could not take decisions on strategies for protecting the state and its people and have them implemented.

Governor Yari said: “We have been facing serious security challenges over the years but in spite of being governor and chief security officer of the state, I cannot direct security officers on what to do nor sanction them when they err. As chief security officer, the nomenclature in just a name."

He lamented the fact that it was disheartening that killings in the state had continued in spite of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s order to security agencies to end the incessant blood-letting across the country. According to Governor Yari, despite the president’s order, the killings have not stopped.

Governor Yari said that the state government was spending huge amount of its resources on security but to no avail. He urged people of the state to be more faithful to God and embark on special prayers over the challenges facing Zamfara.

He also appealed to them to be patient and continue to cooperate with the government and security agencies as steps were being taken to address the challenges. Over the past week, there were several attacks in Zamfara State, which claimed over 30 lives.