A former Minister of Interior, Lt Gen Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd), on Monday, decried the high level of insecurity in Northern Nigeria, saying it has reached a level where bandits and insurgents have taken over some communities, tax and make laws for them.

The retired Chief of Army Staff at the First Media and Security Summit held in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, with the theme ‘Existential Threats and National Security’, said the insecurity issue in the North has existed for over two decades.

“People were killed in Katsina, Borno, Zamfara and Kano mosques. The North has suffered from herders/farmers clash, terrorism and banditry.

“We have gotten to a situation where bandits and insurgents have taken some of our communities, taxing and making laws for them.

“Thousands have been killed and millions displaced. The number of widows and orphans has increased, and farmers have lost farms and herders’ cattle rustled without action from state actors,” he said.

He urged northern governors to establish the Ministry of Mineral Resources and liaise with relevant federal agencies to harness their natural resources, improve their revenue base to end poverty in their respective states and reduce the level of insecurity.

Also, he said, to address the spate of killings occasioned by insecurity in the North, the respective state government must restore the dignity of the traditional institution, improve agriculture, which the North is known for, address the issue of out-of-school children and embrace social inclusion.

“Over 70 per cent of those suffering from poverty occasioned by insecurity are from the North. Religious extremism is a major threat to security in northern Nigeria and has led groups like Boko Haram, Lakurawa terrorists and bandits to unleash violence on the people,” he said.

Earlier, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, said security is everybody’s responsibility, adding that, “We need to come together to talk with each other on how to solve this problem.

“We were not like this before, Nigeria was not what it is today. We can solve the problem by coming together and having understanding, and going ahead to implement the decision we reached to have peace.”

In his contribution, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State said the North needs to come together to end the insecurity facing it.

Insecurity in the North West is worrisome. The summit should look at the root cause of it, it may be due to climate change and other issues.

In his own submission, Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi stated that the summit would provide the opportunity to discuss the challenges facing the North and find solutions to them. (Daily Trust)