NIGERIA: Northern Governors, Traditional Rulers Raise Alarm Over Worsening Insecurity, Demand Coordinated Action

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has called for an extraordinary level of unity and decisive leadership to confront what he described as a rapidly deteriorating security and socio-economic situation across Northern Nigeria.

Speaking at the Joint Northern States Governors’ Forum and Northern Traditional Rulers Council meeting held in Kaduna, Yahaya said the recent surge in abductions in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Kano, Niger and Sokoto, alongside renewed Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe, demonstrates that insecurity in the region has evolved into a “national and existential threat.”

He extended condolences to families affected by the latest attacks and commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the swift release of some abducted schoolchildren.

Yahaya said, warning that terrorists are increasingly targeting schools and farmlands in a deliberate attempt to cripple the region’s future.

He said: “Without peace and security, there will be no politics to play and no state or country to govern.”

He added: “Our people, Muslims and Christians alike, are victims of this violence. Our armed forces, drawn from every tribe and faith, are paying the supreme price. We must resist narratives that promote discord. That is exactly what our enemies want.”

The governor noted that insecurity is being aggravated by deep socio-economic challenges, including widespread poverty, high illiteracy levels, climate pressures and weak infrastructure.

He stressed that long-term peace will remain elusive without bold investment in human capital, job creation and critical development projects.

A major focus of the meeting was the rising population of out-of-school children in the North. Describing the situation as “a stain on our collective conscience,” Yahaya said millions of school-age children roaming the streets instead of learning pose both a developmental and security risk.

“We must move beyond rhetoric. Every child must be in school and every young person must be equipped for a productive future,” he stated.

Following the deliberations, Northern governors and traditional rulers issued a communiqué outlining several resolutions, including a call for stronger joint security operations, coordinated intelligence sharing, and urgent measures to curb illegal mining, which has become a major driver of violence in parts of the North.

They also recommended increased investment in education, youth empowerment and community-based peacebuilding to address root causes of insecurity.

The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to working collectively to restore stability, insisting that only unified and decisive action can halt the escalating violence threatening the region’s social and economic foundation.