President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is currently holding a closed-door meeting with Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Sources at the Presidency confirmed that Governor Mohammed arrived at Aso Rock earlier in the day to brief the President on the prevailing security situation in Bauchi State, particularly recent disturbances reported in parts of the state. The meeting, which is taking place behind closed doors, is understood to be focused primarily on security concerns and measures to restore calm in affected communities.
Bauchi State has in recent weeks witnessed pockets of unrest, raising concerns among residents and security stakeholders. Of particular concern are the activities of armed bandits in the Alkaleri Local Government Area. The governor is said to have provided the President with detailed updates on the scale of the threat and the steps already taken by the state government to curb the violence.
Alkaleri, a largely agrarian area, has reportedly experienced sporadic attacks linked to bandit groups, leading to displacement and heightened anxiety among local communities. The situation, according to sources familiar with the discussions, requires urgent federal intervention to prevent further escalation and to reinforce security operations on the ground.
Governor Mohammed later addressed State House correspondents, where he spoke not only about the security briefing but also about recent developments in the political landscape. He commented on the wave of defections from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor maintained that politicians who have chosen to leave the PDP are exercising their democratic right to associate freely. “They have the freedom to move to any party of their choice,” he said, stressing that political mobility is a hallmark of democratic governance.
Despite the growing number of defections, Mohammed reaffirmed his commitment to remaining in the opposition party. He emphasised that his focus remains on governance and delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Bauchi State, rather than being distracted by political realignments.
Observers note that the meeting between the President and the Bauchi governor underscores the Federal Government’s ongoing engagement with state leaders on security matters, particularly in regions grappling with banditry and other forms of criminality.
