Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has instructed security agencies to intensify action against illegal mining, banditry and kidnapping, warning that influential individuals and traditional authorities would not be exempt from sanctions if implicated in criminal activity.
The governor gave the directive at a State Security Council meeting at Government House, Bauchi, attended by security chiefs and representatives of traditional institutions, including the Emir of Bauchi.
Mohammed said unauthorized mining could provide revenue or logistical support to criminal networks and called for coordinated patrols and ground operations in forest reserves, border communities and other vulnerable locations.
Although he described Bauchi as relatively peaceful compared with some neighboring states, he warned that emerging threats required sustained vigilance. He identified cross-border crime, misinformation, kidnapping and illegal mining as overlapping challenges.
The governor commended security operations in Alkaleri, Ningi and other areas and urged commanders to extend successful approaches to communities where criminal groups might seek refuge. He also welcomed federal approval, as reported in the supplied account, for two military battalions in Alkaleri and Tafawa Balewa.
Traditional rulers and local leaders were asked to improve early-warning arrangements and report suspicious movements, particularly during seasonal migration. Mohammed said any leader found illegally allocating land, sheltering criminal suspects or facilitating unauthorized access to mining sites could face legal action and possible removal.
The governor promised continued state support in logistics and communications while urging residents to provide credible intelligence and reject rumors. Allegations of complicity, he stressed, must be addressed through professional and lawful security operations.
