Gombe: How To Fix Security Without Suffocating People -By Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim

I am writing this story with a heavy heart owing to how the Gombe’s economy is being crippled by a recent policy imposed by the Gombe State Commissioner of Police and the State Government led by Governor Inuwa Yahaya.

The authorities state that the motive of this motorcycle ban, enforced between 7 pm and 6 am, is to curtail crime and enhance peace and security in the state.

No doubt, this is a positive objective. However, I do not believe that in 2025, a government should still be imposing such an unnecessary ban on motorcycles, for over 100 days, which ultimately restricts people’s movement contrary to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

The world has developed, providing a plethora of options for problem-solving. With the advancement of ICTs (Information and Communications Technology) and the emergence of new technologies, it is crucial not to resort to an outdated or analogue method of security compliance.

Based on information at my disposal, Gombe State was selected as one of the pilot states for the Smart City Project by Galaxy Backbone under the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy. This led to CCTV cameras being installed across strategic locations in the metropolis to monitor movement. This system can and should be harnessed by the government to tackle the security situation without unnecessarily suffocating poor Nigerians who are already struggling to feed themselves due to the harsh, capitalist policies of both the Federal Government and the State Government.

Secondly, the perpetrators of these crimes are known not only to the government but also to the general public. For the government to genuinely fight crime, it should completely deal with these criminals and chase them out of the city, just as the Anti-Kalare squad of the Nigerian Army and SARS of the Police Force did some years ago. This is a far better and less harmful approach to the peaceful and law-abiding citizens of Gombe.

The best and simplest solution of all is for the politicians and government officials who patronise these thugs during election periods to simply stop. When they are no longer supported by those in the corridors of power, the thugs will have no option but to soft-pedal and obey the laws of the land.

Finally, the issue of road traffic offenders who overspeed and use deep horns on their motorcycles, causing accidents, noise pollution, panic among road users, and ultimately claiming lives, can be tackled through serious legislation. Anyone caught violating the rules should be punished in accordance with the law. Once this process becomes strict and consistent, they will all pay the price for their actions.

Therefore, I call on the state government to reconsider and lift this ban to ease the movement of people to their places of business, learning, and worship. This decision has not only affected the economy but also disrupted the daily Ta’alimat (learning sessions) between Maghrib and Isha prayers taking place at various Masajid.

A stitch in time saves nine.

Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim is a multiple award-winning investigative journalist and a 2025 Adejumobi Adegbite Fellow at the Foundation for Investigative Journalism and Social Justice, Lagos. He can be reached via awwalbinibrahim@gmail.com