Details Emerge As 19 Northern Governors Meet Over Kaduna Bombing

Governors of the 19 Northern States under the umbrella of the Northern Governors’ Forum are currently meeting in Kaduna.

It was learnt that the governors are discussing matters relating to insecurity, agriculture, and oil exploration in the region as well as commiserating with the host governor over the accidental airstrike that claimed several lives in Tudun Biri, Igabi Local Government Area of the state in which the Nigerian Army claimed responsibility.

The meeting being hosted by the Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, is the maiden gathering of the governors since their  emergence as governors in the May 2023 general elections.

Among the governors present at the meeting are the governor of Katsina State, Dikko Radda, and the deputy governors of Jigawa, Bauchi, Kano, Yobe, and Kwara states, who are representing their state governors.

The Chairman of the Forum and Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammad Yahaya, while addressing his colleagues condemned the accidental bomb on the people of Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, noting that more efforts are needed by the regional governors to fight insecurity ravaging the region.

He argued that addressing insecurity and other challenges remains crucial to the development and well-being of the people of the region.

He disclosed that the Northern Governors Forum under his leadership, is working assiduously to ensure that the Tudun Biri incident is not swept under the carpet but thoroughly investigated.

This, he said, was to ensure that victims are compensated and preventive measure taken to prevent reoccurrence

“Let me begin by expressing condolence to the people of Tudun Biri who are victims of the unfortunate bombing incident by the Nigerian Army’s unintended operations.

“We all witnessed the level of devastation and we all condemned the tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the affected families and the entire people of Kaduna State.

“I want to assure you that all the Northern governors are working assiduously to ensure that the unfortunate incident is thoroughly investigated with a view to compensating the victims and taking corrective measures to prevent future occurrence.

“As governors of Northern states, while we are commending the Federal Government over the fight against insecurity, we believe that more needs to be done to bring an end to kidnapping, banditry, communal clashes, and terrorism bedeviling our region,” he said.

Sani while welcoming his colleagues, thanked them for their individual and collective condolences on the loss of lives in the accidental bomb attack on Tudun Biri.

The governor lamented the spate of insecurity in the North while calling for the establishment of a Command and Control Centre to coordinate joint operations aimed at tackling terrorism and other related crimes in the region.

“We must develop a Common Strategy and Operational Plan to tackle insecurity. We must establish a Command and Control Centre to coordinate our joint efforts against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal elements in our region,” he said.

While stressing the need for unity in the region, the governor noted that diversity and ethno-religious unity remain the foundation for the advancement of the ideals of regional peace, security, and development in the North.

This was just as he noted that the regional governors must work together towards empowering the people as key production forces for the growth of the north.

He added, “Our region has been grappling with challenges of insecurity. Our human development indices have been declining.
“For the Northern Governors Forum to remain relevant, we must forge unity among our people and collaborate on issues of development.

“We must fashion a plan for the development of the North. Our situation is dire and requires concerted and sustained action.

“Diversity and ethno-religious unity remain the foundation for the advancement of the ideals of regional peace, security, and development in the North.

“Northern governors must work together towards empowering the people as key production forces for the growth of the North.

“This requires deliberate policy designs and implementation, in ways that recognise the critical role of leadership in leading such initiatives.”