Northern governors and traditional rulers have asked the Federal Government to suspend all mining activities across the region for six months, citing illegal mining as a major driver of insecurity in many northern states.
The call was part of a communiqué issued on Monday after a joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council, held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna.
The meeting was chaired by the Governor of Gombe State and Chairman of the NSGF, Muhammadu Yahaya, and attended by the 19 northern governors and heads of the traditional councils.
The Forum expressed deep concern over increasing violence in several states, including recent killings and abductions in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano, as well as renewed Boko Haram activities in Borno and Yobe.
“The attacks on schoolchildren and other citizens have become unacceptable tragedies that demand urgent collective action,” the communiqué stated.
The leaders also conveyed their condolences to the affected states, saying, “The Forum extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the governments and good people of the affected states.”
They commended President Bola Tinubu for what they described as the Federal Government’s “firm response” to recent abductions and insurgency threats, particularly the rescue of some kidnapped pupils.
The Forum also praised 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 governors affirmed.
A key decision from the meeting was the region’s renewed push for the creation of state police, with leaders insisting that decentralised policing is now crucial to restoring security.
“The Forum reaffirms its wholehearted support and commitment to the establishment of state police,” the communiqué added, urging federal and state lawmakers from the North to “expedite action for its actualisation.”
On illegal mining, the Forum linked criminal mining networks to rising insecurity, saying the proceeds often finance armed groups.
“The Forum observed that illegal mining has become a major contributory factor to the security crises in Northern Nigeria,” it said.
“We strongly recommend a suspension of mining exploration for six months to allow proper audit and to arrest the menace of artisanal illegal mining.”
To further strengthen security efforts, the northern governors announced the creation of a regional Security Trust Fund. Under the proposal, each state and its local governments will contribute ₦1bn monthly, deducted at source.
According to the Forum, the fund will provide sustainable financing for joint operations, intelligence-driven interventions and coordinated security responses across the region.
Reaffirming their unity, the governors and monarchs said only collective action can address the mounting challenges.
“Only through unity, peer review and cooperation can we overcome the pressing challenges before us,” they declared.
