Northern governors and traditional rulers gathered on Monday at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna for an emergency meeting as insecurity worsens across the region. The session was called in response to the rise in bandit attacks, terrorism, kidnappings, and clashes between farmers and herders, which have led to many deaths and large-scale displacement in recent months.
The meeting, held behind closed doors, is being led by the Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, alongside the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, who is representing the traditional leaders. Their discussions are centered on the growing threats faced by communities in northern Nigeria.
The northern region has experienced a sharp spike in insecurity in recent weeks. In Kebbi State, bandits abducted 24 schoolgirls, who were later reported to have regained their freedom. Another attack in Niger State saw around 200 children taken from a Catholic private school, with about 50 managing to escape and return home.
These incidents form part of a wider pattern of violence that has put pressure on state governments and security agencies. The outcome of the meeting is expected to shape the next steps in addressing the ongoing crisis across the North.