BY VICTORIA IKEANO

Nasarawa state currently enjoys relative peace in comparison to other states in the zone because of its goodwill with the presidency through its governor that has resulted in establishment of more security outfits in the state. So declared the state’s Information, Culture and Tourism Commissioner, Comrade Dogo Shammah in an interview with this correspondent.

Recall that the governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule had some time ago raised an alarm over activities of the Durusalam sect which is likened to Boko Haram. He had said that the sect having been routed from Toto area of the state by security agents, were inching to the federal capital territory by relocating to other parts of Nasarawa local government, Wamba and Karu local governments. Karu shares border with the FCT.

There was also cross border security issues exacerbated by Benue state’s anti-grazing law that led to influx of herders to neighbouring towns in Nasarawa state with concomitant conflicts with farmers.

The commissioner disclosed that there were now a number of security organisations dotted across the state. He listed them as Mobile Police Training barrack unit located at Endehu hills in Nasarawa Eggon local government; Special Forces (Army) barrack at Doma, Doma local government; Air force Special wing located along Shendam, Lafia, the state capital; a new Mobile Police (MOPOL) unit along Agyragu road in Obi local government; Military Task Force unit in Toto, Toto local government area as well as MOPOL Special unit at Umuaisha also in Toto local government area.

These are in addition to the previously established MOPOL outfit in Akwanga and an Army base in Keffi. According to the Information Commissioner, the state government was able to attract establishment of additional security outfits because of the good rapport between it and the federal government
“Whenever we run to the presidency they listen to us and these security establishments have brought some measure of stability to the security situation and a free environment for people to operate. And that is why we now have investors coming to Nasarawa state, Toto in particular, to invest billions of dollars in agriculture. At the moment we have the Azman company that is into agriculture in Toto. We recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Nigeria Flour Mills, about six weeks ago and the governor visited them in Lagos about two weeks ago to fine-tune the process of their coming onboard. They are bringing in over 250 million dollars to invest in agriculture and in Toto particularly. There is relative peace in Nasarawa state because if there was no peace people would not have invested in Nasarawa state”, Shammah explained
Recent flag off of the National Livestock Progamme’s pilot scheme in Awe local government council of Nasarawa State is another security boost as it would curb the perennial herders/farmers clashes.