By John Ikani
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu has said the South-West geographical zone is the safest region in Nigeria.
He spoke while featuring on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’ programme.
According to him, South-Western states are still safe compared to other regions despite rising cases of kidnapping and banditry.
While attributing the development to the “success” of his principal, President Muhammadu Buhari in piloting the affairs of Nigeria, Shehu said Nigeria is safer now compared to 2015 when Buhari took over.
“As far as Boko Haram terrorism is concerned, Nigeria is a safer place today than it was when we took over.
”New challenges have come up, farmers-herders clashes, killings in the central sections of the country, much of these have been subdued.
”The problem of sabotage of oil installations in the South-South has been managed up to this point.
”Challenges of banditry, kidnappings have arisen in so many parts of the country including the South-West. Today, the South-West is perhaps the safest part of this country.
”The challenges are epicentre around parts of Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna States. Much of it (insecurity) has been rid of in Kaduna. Katsina is a lot safer today than it was two years. Zamfara is dealing with problems –kinetic and non-kinetic.
”Also, the point is that the problems as they arise are being confronted head-on by the competent administration of a military that is loyal, police (force) that is loyal, intelligence agencies that are efficient” he added.
Is South West the safest region in Nigeria?
The South West region is one of the geopolitical zones of Nigeria, consisting of six states. They include Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo.
The United States, in its latest travel advisories warned its citizens to avoid some 14 Nigerian states, rife with terrorism, banditry and kidnapping
The states include: Borno, Yobe, and northern Adamawa state due to terrorism and kidnapping, Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Zamfara states due to kidnapping.
It also warned American citizens against going to Coastal areas of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, and Rivers states (with the exception of Port Harcourt) due to crime, kidnapping, and maritime crime.
The travel advisory did not warn against travel to any state in Nigeria’s South West. Neither did it warn against traveling to the South East Region of the country.
However, recent happenings in the South East, including increase attacks on security operatives have raised questions about the overall security of the region.
As a result, the South West Region is relatively safe when compared to other geopolitical zones of the country.
