In response to the escalating security crisis in the region, the 19 Northern governors have scheduled an emergency meeting for November 29, 2025, to be held in Kaduna State.

The planned meeting is coming on the heels of a parley by the South-West governors, which took place at the Oyo State Governor’s Office in Ibadan, on Monday.

The South-West governors resolved that it was time for the creation of state police to address the growing incidents of bandit attacks.

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, Peter Ahemba, confirmed Saturday’s meeting by the Northern governors to our correspondent in Lafia, the state capital, on Monday, as concerns spiked over the closure of schools by the authorities.

Ahemba explained that the northern governors’ meeting would deliberate on concrete steps that could be taken to address the rising wave of kidnapping, banditry, and other forms of security threats in the zone.

In recent times, the Northern region has witnessed an increase in attacks on educational institutions, prompting several state governments to temporarily close schools.

Last week, armed attackers raided the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, abducting at least 24 schoolgirls and killing the vice principal.

A few days later, gunmen attacked St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger State, where they seized over 300 students and staff, though 50 students later escaped.

Speaking with The PUNCH, the governor’s aide stated, “The Northern Governors have fixed a meeting for Kaduna on November 29 to discuss the rising wave of insecurity in some parts of the country, especially within the northern part of the country.

“So, the meeting is expected to deliberate on concrete steps that could be taken to address the rising wave of kidnapping, banditry, and other forms of security threats in some parts of the country.

“For Nasarawa State, His Excellency, the Governor, who happens to be the Chairman of the North Central Governors Forum, had to cut short his trip from the G20 Summit that is going on in South Africa, to come back immediately and attend to the security challenges in some states of the northern part of the country.’’

He added, “In line with that, His Excellency had to convene yet another emergency security meeting this afternoon, being Monday, the 24th of November 2025. So, the meeting deliberated on how to prevent the escalation of insecurity, the banditry activities that are being witnessed in some parts of the country, to strengthen surveillance measures and also enhance the support to security agencies to effectively tackle any eventual situation that may occur.

“So far so good, these are the efforts being made by both the Northern Governors Forum and Nasarawa State as a government.”

Responding to a question on what was being done to address insecurity in the state, Ahemba stated, “I can assure you that every necessary measure is being put in place. The government is on a red alert. The security agencies are on red alert because of what is happening within the neighbourhood. So, the government is not resting, and I can assure you that the security agencies are well equipped to respond.’’

Rising from their meeting convened to bolster security in their region, the South-West governors called on the Federal Government to urgently secure the forest across the region and vast forest belts that have become hideouts for the criminal elements.

Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo) and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti) were personally in attendance, except Ademola Adeleke of Osun state, who was represented by his deputy.

Reading the communique after the meeting, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the forum reviewed the current state of security in the region and reaffirmed its support for the establishment of state police, emphasising that “The time is now and it can no longer be delayed.’’

The governors also called on all the South-West people to remain united and committed to the peace that exists in the region, adding that “We remain one, indivisible entity that will continue to enjoy and guard the religious tolerance that we have always been known.’’

“The forum commends President Bola Tinubu on the fight against insecurity and various economic reforms and other developmental agenda. The forum expresses solidarity with the Federal Government in its efforts in Kebbi, Kwara and Niger States after the recent spate of kidnappings, at the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town, the Catholic institution of St. Mary’s in Papiri, Agwara LGA, Niger and the CAC Church at Eruku, Kwara State.

“The forum applauds the swift response of the Federal Government towards the rescue of the Kwara abductees and more than 51 students of the Catholic School, Niger State. The forum reviewed the current state of security in our region and took some decisions to ensure the security of the lives and property of our people.

‘’South West Regional Security Fund: The forum agreed to set up a South West Security Fund under DAWN Commission to be administered by the Forum of Special Advisers on Security of all South West States.

“Joint Security Intelligence Sharing and Communication Platform: The forum resolves to establish a live, digital intelligence-sharing platform among all six South West states (Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti). This platform will exchange threat notifications, incident logs, traveller and cargo alerts and coordinate state-to-state rapid response.”

On forest surveillance, the governors commended the efforts of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Hunters, Amotekun Corps members and all the other security agencies.

“The Forum calls on the Federal Government to note the urgent need for enhanced forest surveillance across the South West States and calls for the Federal Government to secure the vast forest belts that have become hideouts for criminal elements.

“To this end, the forum agrees that the Federal Government should help deploy Forest Guards across the South West states, with each State Government responsible for providing the required personnel.”

The governors reaffirmed their collective commitment to reclaiming the forests and ensuring that the spaces no longer serve as safe corridors for banditry, kidnapping, or any form of criminal activity.

They said, “On interstate migration, the forum expresses deep concern about the unregulated interstate migration that continues to pose significant challenges across the South-West. The forum calls for stricter border monitoring, data collection and self-identification and for each South West State to work with the National Identity Management Commission for proper identification.

“The Forum agrees to intensify security collaboration to ensure that interstate migration does not become a conduit for insecurity. Illegal Mining Activities: The forum expresses deep concern over the escalating illegal mining activities across the South-West States, which continue to threaten environmental safety, public health and regional security: The forum calls for a comprehensive and enforceable licensing framework, strengthened monitoring mechanisms, and strict enforcement actions against violators who may perpetrate violent crimes under the guise of mining.”

“On agriculture, food security and climate resilience, the forum acknowledges and appreciates the efforts of the Federal Government in providing food sufficiency and, in particular, commends the various farmers in the region for the increase in agricultural output and subsequent stability and reduction in food prices.” (Text, excluding headline, excerpted from a PUNCH report)

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