Northern governors and traditional rulers on Monday, December 1, met in Kaduna to confront the escalating wave of insecurity gripping the region, warning that the situation has now spilled beyond local disturbances and threatens national stability.
The high-level gathering, held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, brought together the nineteen Northern governors and top traditional rulers under the Northern Traditional Rulers Council.
State Police Described as “Most Practical Solution”
Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, delivered a sobering assessment, stating that the North is facing a security crisis that has outgrown the capacity of Nigeria’s centralised policing structure.
He argued that the country must embrace structural reforms—starting with the creation of state police—to effectively combat banditry, insurgency, kidnapping, farmer–herder clashes, and widespread criminality.
According to Yahaya, “state policing has become a critical instrument for addressing the security realities confronting the nation.”
He explained that insecurity in the region is being driven by a dangerous blend of economic stagnation, poor infrastructure, unemployment, illiteracy, environmental pressure, and mismanaged resources. These factors, he said, continue to fuel a cycle of violence that displaces thousands and cripples regional development.
Yahaya urged Northern leaders to tackle these root causes head-on, warning that the region’s growth and stability depend on decisive and coordinated action.
Commendation for Federal Efforts, Call for Sustained Rescue Operations
The Gombe governor commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for recent interventions that led to the rescue of kidnapped victims across the North.
He appealed for unrelenting efforts until every abducted person is safely returned home.
He reaffirmed that Northern governors remain committed to partnering with the Federal Government, security agencies, and community authorities to safeguard lives, schools, and livelihoods.
Kaduna Governor Highlights Regional Coordination
Host governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State disclosed that Northern governors are strengthening joint strategies aimed at promoting peace, improving governance, and protecting vulnerable communities.
He added that a peer-review framework is already in use to enhance accountability and ensure better service delivery among the states.
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Sani also emphasised the indispensable influence of traditional leaders in maintaining social cohesion and bolstering early-warning systems. He encouraged emirs and chiefs to intensify community mobilisation efforts to deter criminal activities.
Traditional Leaders Reaffirm Support
Representing the region’s royal fathers, the Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, pledged continued collaboration with the governors.
He stressed that good governance and people-focused policies must remain at the heart of efforts to restore lasting peace.
