Six governors from the North-West and North-Central geo-political zones today met with the heads of security agencies of the affected states to appraise the ongoing war against cattle rustling and cross border crimes.

The meeting was held behind closed door at the Kaduna State Government House and had in attendance the governors of Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Niger states.

Briefing reporters at the end of the meeting, Governor Abdulaziz Yari, of Zamfara State, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said the states were in close collaboration with the Federal Government towards finding a lasting solution to the problem.

He said that the security operations would be expanded to focus on the forest areas where the notorious rustlers and bandits operated from.

Governor Yari, however, gave the assurance that the affected state governments were ready to provide logistic support to enhance the operations of security operatives in their effort to dislodge the rustlers that have been terrorising herdsmen and farmers over the years.

He said that besides the plans to enhance the security in the region, the governors have also come up with a plan on youth empowerment and job creation that will be implemented by various states to train the youth on skills acquisition in order for them not to get involved in criminal acts.

The menace of cattle rustling in most states in the North has become a nightmare for residents of the region, with over 30,000 cows and other livestock stolen by armed bandits in the past one year.

It is expected that regular meetings of this kind would go a long way in stemming the recurring cases of cattle rustling and other associated crimes in the region.

•Adapted from a Channels TV report. Photo shows Governor Yari.