by Isah Gambari
Northern governors and traditional rulers have announced sweeping new security measures—including full support for state police, a six-month suspension of mining activities, and the creation of a ₦1 billion monthly regional security fund—to combat escalating banditry, mass abductions and illegal mining across the North.
The resolutions emerged from an emergency joint meeting of the 19 Northern governors and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council, held on Monday at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.
Speaking after the meeting, the leaders described illegal mining as a “major revenue engine for criminal gangs,” ordering an immediate six-month halt to all mining operations in the region.
“We cannot continue to allow criminal networks fund violence through illicit mining,” one participant said.
They urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the Minister of Solid Minerals to stop all exploration activities, revalidate existing licences, and collaborate more closely with state authorities to combat illegal operators.
To strengthen coordinated security operations and intelligence sharing, the Forum approved the establishment of a Northern Regional Security Trust Fund. Under the arrangement, states and their local governments will contribute ₦1 billion monthly, deducted at source. Officials say a detailed operational framework will be unveiled soon.
Reiterating long-standing demands, the governors and traditional rulers declared unanimous support for state police.
“The time for state police is now,” a communiqué stated. “We call on our lawmakers at the National Assembly and state assemblies to expedite the constitutional amendments required for its creation.”
The leaders also commended recent federal counter-terrorism breakthroughs—particularly the rescue of abducted schoolchildren—and pledged continuous support for military operations across the North.
They extended condolences to states recently hit by deadly attacks—including Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kano, Borno and Yobe—emphasising the need for unity, coordinated action and a robust peer-review mechanism. A follow-up meeting will review progress on all resolutions.
ACF Denies Supporting Amnesty for Bandits
Meanwhile, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has dismissed social media claims suggesting it supports amnesty or financial incentives for bandits.
ACF spokesperson, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, described the circulating videos as “mischievous and distorted,” insisting they misrepresented comments by ACF Board of Trustees Chairman, Bashir Dalhatu, during an interview on Arise News.
“Dalhatu’s reference to the Niger Delta amnesty was only an example of mixed security strategies,” Muhammad-Baba clarified. “At no point did ACF endorse concessions to terrorists. We have never supported amnesty and remain committed to wiping out banditry.”
