Northern governors meet in Kaduna over insecurity

Governors of the 19 northern states are meeting in Kaduna to discuss the high level of insecurity in the region.

In his opening address at the meeting, Kashim Shettima, governor of Borno, who is chairman of the northern governors’ forum, urged his colleagues to adopt strategies to forestall all forms of security challenges in the north.

Shetima regretted conflicts between farmers and herdsmen in the region, saying it is the responsibility of governors to find lasting solutions to the problem.

“As elected leaders, it is our primary responsibility to take a hard and critical look at these conflicts and come up with implementable ways and means of addressing them squarely,” he said.

He said the issues to be discussed at the meeting include the lingering clashes between farmers and herdsmen and the New Nigeria Development Company Limited (NNDC), jointly owned by the 19 states in the north.

“I need to emphasise that whatever resolutions we may arrive at, should be without prejudice to the various commendable and comprehensive measures being put in place by the federal government in addressing the security challenges; especially the recent abduction of the Dapchi schoolgirls,” he said.

“We appreciate and commend the efforts being made by President Muhammadu Buhari in the Dapchi crisis by ensuring the deployment of all necessary security personnel and equipment towards the rescue of the abducted girls.”

He also condemned the recent clashes in Taraba and Kaduna states which led to the loss of many lives and destruction of property worth millions of naira.