Why Northern Governors Are Backing State Police and Demanding a 6-Month Mining Ban to Tackle Escalating Insecurity

The Northern States Governors' Forum (NSGF) and the region's Traditional Rulers have taken decisive positions as insecurity continues to worsen across the North, declaring bold reforms they believe are necessary to halt the violent attacks, mass abductions and terror-linked criminality destabilizing communities.

The leaders met on Monday at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna for what insiders described as one of the most strategic gatherings in recent years, with the rising wave of killings, kidnappings and insurgency dominating discussions.

In a communiqu├® issued after the meeting, Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya, said the governors and traditional leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening unity, stability and coordinated regional responses to insecurity. He stressed that no northern state can successfully tackle security challenges in isolation.

The forum offered condolences to victims and families affected by recent tragedies in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano States, as well as those affected by renewed Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe. They also commended President Bola Tinubu for the swift rescue of some abducted schoolchildren and ongoing federal interventions.

However, the governors insisted that more drastic steps must be taken.

One of the forum's most consequential resolutions was the full endorsement of State Police, which northern leaders now describe as "inevitableÔÇØ given the scale of the security breakdown. They urged federal and state lawmakers from the region to fast-track constitutional and legislative amendments to bring State Police into reality.

In another strong decision, the governors identified illegal mining as a major catalyst for banditry and terrorism, warning that criminal networks now use mining sites for funding, recruitment and shelter.

To address this, they recommended that President Tinubu suspend all mining activities nationwide for six months, allowing for a full audit and revalidation of mining licences in collaboration with state governments.

As part of broader reforms, the governors approved the creation of a Regional Security Trust Fund, to be financed by monthly contributions of 1 billion from each state and its local governments, deducted at source under an agreed framework.

The fund, they noted, will support joint security operations, intelligence coordination and procurement of equipment to enhance regional responses.

The forum said it will reconvene soon to evaluate progress and unveil additional measures.