Member representing Wase Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase, has mobilised traditional, political and community leaders in Bashar Chiefdom to address security challenges threatening socio-economic activities in parts of Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State
The meeting, held on Saturday at the palace of the Rekna of Bashar, Alhaji Abdullahi Idris, brought together security personnel, community leaders, youth advocates and village chiefs to discuss ways of tackling insecurity in the area
The meeting focused on building a united front against criminal activities, particularly banditry, in border communities and mining areas within the chiefdom
Addressing the stakeholders, Wase said lasting security could not be achieved through military intervention alone, stressing the need for grassroots intelligence sharing and cooperation among community members
His mobilisation efforts followed the deployment of an Intervention Battalion of Special Forces to the Bashar base by the Nigerian Army Wase had commended the Army leadership for the deployment, which is expected to strengthen security operations in the area.
Community leaders are also said to be engaging with the newly deployed troops to improve cooperation between residents and security personnel
In a recent briefing on its strategic security plans, the Bashar traditional leadership pledged to strengthen intelligence gathering through direct communication channels between village heads and security operatives
The traditional leadership also identified the need to monitor mining sites to address security concerns associated with unregulated activities and the presence of unauthorised operators in the area
The initiative forms part of Wase’s broader legislative efforts to address insecurity in Plateau State He had previously sponsored motions of urgent public importance in the House of Representatives, calling for federal security deployments and humanitarian assistance for displaced persons in the southern part of the state.
The Bashar Chiefdom Community Development Association (BACCODA) expressed optimism that the collaboration between Wase and the traditional council would contribute to restoring peace and protecting lives and property