Northern governors and traditional rulers on Monday declared support for the establishment of state police, while recommending the suspension of mining activities across the region for a period of six months.
This was contained in a communiqué issued after a joint emergency security meeting of the governors and traditional rulers held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.
The meeting reaffirmed “its wholehearted support and commitment to the establishment of state police,” urging federal and state lawmakers from the region to “expedite action for its actualisation.”
The meeting, chaired by the governor of Gombe State, observed that the worsening insecurity in the region was largely caused by illegal mining activities.
They asked Tinubu to direct the Minister of Solid Minerals to impose a six-month suspension of mining activities in order to allow for a full audit and revalidation of licences.
“The Forum observed that illegal mining has become a major contributory factor to the security crises in Northern Nigeria.
“We strongly recommend a suspension of mining exploration for six months to allow proper audit and to arrest the menace of artisanal illegal mining,” it said.
The forum expressed concern over the escalating violence in parts of the North, including the killings and abductions recently recorded in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano states, as well as renewed Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe.
It commended President Bola Tinubu for his firm response to recent abductions and insurgency threats, especially the rescue of some abducted pupils.
“The Forum extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the governments and good people of the affected states,” the communiqué said, noting that the attacks on schoolchildren and other citizens had become “unacceptable tragedies” that required urgent collective action.
The governors also saluted security agencies for their sacrifices on the frontlines.
“We resolved to renew our support for every step taken by the President and Commander-in-Chief to take the fight to insurgents’ enclaves in order to end the criminality,” the Forum stated.
The governors announced the creation of a regional Security Trust Fund, with each state and its local governments contributing ₦1bn monthly, and to be deducted at source under an agreed framework.
According to the governors, the fund would help sustain joint operations, intelligence-driven interventions and coordinated security responses across the region.
