INSECURITY: Northern governors, Buhari meet on insecurity, urge collaboration

President Muhammadu Buhari has met with some Northern state governors to discuss solutions to insecurity in the region.

He held talks with Governors Aminu Masari (Katsina), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba). Governor Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) had, on Monday night, met the President on the same issue.

Speaking to newsmen, yesterday, Masari stressed the need for northern states to collaborate and tackle the challenge. “What is most important is for all the states, especially, the North-Western states, to take the pains and work together to make sure we block all loopholes.

“But if one state has a policy and another has a different one, certainly they (bandits) will always be moving from one state to another. Good enough, we are already working closely with states that border us, like Nasarawa and Niger, to bring the problem to a manageable and tolerable level,” Masari said.

THIS came as Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) called on the Federal Government and Northern state governors to end insecurity in the region within three months or else it would mobilize its members in a massive protest to shut down the region’s economy.

The group gave the ultimatum in a communique issued to newsmen after its meeting in Sokoto on Monday.
The communique was signed by Sokoto State Coordinator, Isah Jabbi Usman, and State Coordinator of Human Rights Monitored Network, Ibrahim Adamu Tudun Doki.

ALSO, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State has said the Northeast Governors’ Forum (NGF) has to strategize to sustain peace and unity in the region.

Buni said this, yesterday, at the sixth NGF meeting in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital. He said despite improvement in the fight against insurgency, it is not yet over.

The 12-year-old Boko Haram insurgency has claimed over 40,000 lives and destroyed property worth over $9.2 billion (N3.42 trillion) in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States.

MEANWHILE, Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has sought the cooperation of Niger Republic to end banditry in the North West.

A statement by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Jamilu Birnin-Magaji, yesterday, said Matawalle, who met with Nigerien President, Mohamed Bazoun, resolved to explore more areas of support and cooperation.

According to the statement, “Both leaders discussed the issue of insecurity, especially kidnapping, cattle rustling and banditry in Maradi region and parts of Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto States.

Responding, Bazoum thanked Matawalle for efforts he had taken to end the insecurity affecting both countries, urging the governor not to rest on his oars.