BY UMAR YUSUF

YOLA— Piqued by the recurring attacks by insurgents and other criminal activities within Adamawa State and its environs, the Department of State Security Service, DSS, has called for closer collaboration between the local government councils and the security agencies in a bid to tackle the current security challenges facing the northern states.

State Director of the DSS, Mr Olugbenga Jayeoba made this known in Yola, yesterday at a three-day security awareness seminar for commissioners and the 21 local government chairmen in the state.

The seminar was put together by the DSS in collaboration with the state government.

In his paper entitled: “Threat to Local Government Security: Manifests and Counter Measure”, the  Jayeoba observed that in recent times, there have been security challenges hence the need for collaborative efforts towards ensuring security of lives and property.”

He noted that communities and all those at the helm of affairs, particularly local government chairmen needed to be more involved in providing security for lives and property being the closest to the people at the grass roots.

“The people we have called are people who we believe are key to security issues in this part of the state, stretching from border communities of Mubi down to Toungo. In recent times, we have had some security challenges in this state, including insurgent attacks, armed robbery and other criminal activities,” he said.

The DSS Director asked the commissioners and local government chairmen to brace up by collaborating with traditional rulers and other relevant agencies in the fight against insecurity and other organized crimes.

Earlier, Governor Murtala Nyako represented by the Head of Service, Mr Musa Kaibo had said that the workshop was due to the prevailing security situation in the state.

“This necessitated the collaboration with the DSS to fight the monster of insecurity,” he said.

Nyako, who used the meeting to assure people of the state of his administration’s determination to protect lives and property urged traditional rulers and other community leaders to join hands with his administration in ensuring security in their domains.

He said that the nature of Yola, the state capital which had many exit points posed some security challenges, but stressed that his administration in collaboration with the relevant security agencies were equal to the task.