Northern Governors, Traditional Rulers Convene in Kaduna to Address Escalating Insecurity

Governors from northern states, alongside prominent traditional rulers, are currently meeting at the Government House in Kaduna to deliberate on the worsening insecurity across the region.

The high-level security summit, convened by Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and co-chaired by Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya, Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), has brought together leaders from across the North. Attending governors include Umar Bago (Niger), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), among others. Traditional rulers, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, are participating in the discussions aimed at developing a coordinated response to the rising wave of banditry, terrorism, and kidnappings that have plagued northern states in recent months. According to reports, the northern region has experienced a sharp increase in violent attacks targeting schools, communities, and farmlands, prompting urgent calls from both government and traditional authorities for decisive action Governor Inuwa Yahaya described the current situation as “a grim reality of insecurity and poverty that seeks to undermine our very existence,” stressing the need for immediate and coordinated intervention to safeguard the region’s future. The summit is reportedly exploring several measures, including the creation of a State Police framework to enhance local security, as well as community-based strategies to engage youth and traditional leaders in peacebuilding efforts. Discussions are also focusing on addressing the underlying drivers of insecurity, such as poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, and inadequate infrastructure. Leaders at the meeting emphasized the importance of collaboration between government and traditional institutions to restore stability, noting that failure to act decisively could worsen social unrest and impede development across the North. As the deliberations continue, stakeholders hope the meeting will yield actionable strategies that will stem the tide of violence and provide long-term solutions to the insecurity challenges confronting Northern Nigeria.