The governors of Zamfara and Katsina States, Dauda Lawal and Umaru Dikko Radda, respectively, held private meetings with the Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, to address the rising insecurity in their regions.
The closed-door meetings took place on Tuesday at the Ministry of Defence and at the NSA’s office in Abuja. These discussions centered on strengthening security strategies in the two states, which have been severely affected by banditry and other forms of violent crime.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by Sulaiman Bala Idris, the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Governor, the meetings were anchored on recommendations from the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) security committee. The committee had organized a two-day roundtable discussion in Abuja on January 23, 2024, chaired by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
The statement highlighted that the meetings focused on enhancing security collaboration between the Defence Ministry and the governments of Zamfara and Katsina. The talks were described as a key step towards implementing the recommendations of the CNG security summit, which proposed actionable measures to curb the insecurity plaguing Northern Nigeria.
Following their meeting at the Defence Ministry, the governors and the Minister proceeded to the office of the NSA for further discussions. The meeting adopted the CNG’s recommendations, signaling a pivotal moment in addressing the security challenges faced by the two states.
“This adoption marks a significant milestone in efforts to tackle the deep-rooted insecurity in Northern Nigeria,” the statement noted, adding that both governors are committed to leveraging these strategies to combat the persistent banditry in their regions.
Representatives from the CNG, including its Board of Trustees Chairman, Nastura Ashiru Shariff, and the Chairman of the group’s Security Committee, Alhaji Bashir Yusuf, were also present during the discussions. The CNG’s involvement reflects the growing recognition of collaborative efforts in addressing the complex security issues in the North.
