President Bola Tinubu on Monday lamented that the insecurity in the North-West region was affecting other parts of the country.

Tinubu stated this in Katsina, at a two-day summit themed, ‘Regional Cooperation for Securing Lives and Livelihoods in North West Nigeria,’ organised by the North-West Governor’s Forum in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme.

The President, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said the security issue in the North-West was not a sectional matter, adding whenever any part of the country was ailing, others would be affected.

He, however, assured Nigerians that his administration would not rest on its oars until banditry, terrorism, and other forms of insecurity were eliminated.

In the past 15 years, Nigeria’s security landscape has been troubled primarily by the Boko Haram insurgency and the more recent surge in banditry.

Boko Haram, the proscribed Islamic sect, has wreaked havoc in the North-East for over a decade, leading to thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions.

Its tactics include bombings, kidnappings, and guerrilla warfare, targeting both civilians and military installations.

In recent years, however, banditry has emerged as another significant security threat, particularly in the north-western states where unidentified gunmen carry out mass abductions, village raids, and cattle rustling, creating a state of lawlessness and insecurity.

North-West insecurity

In his address titled, ‘Securing Stability: Uniting for Peace in North-West Nigeria,’ Tinubu, noted that his administration’s steps to combat its inherited security challenges were mapped out ‘’even before embarking on the journey.’’

He argued that achieving security and peace would require addressing the historical injustices that had torn communities in Nigeria apart.

The President stated, “Beyond the economic rationale that drove the amalgamation of the northern and southern parts of Nigeria, the formation of our great nation was inspired by the need for mutual protection.

“But, I ask, how can we achieve this sacred objective if one part is afflicted? We have long established that whatever ails any part of this federation destabilises the other. So, the issue of national security in the North-West is not a sectional agenda.

“The road to redeeming the security compromises we inherited was mapped out before we embarked on this journey. We realised that achieving the peace we seek necessitates addressing the historical injustices that have torn communities apart.’’

In addressing the security challenges confronting the country, Tinubu stressed that the government had to reverse the institutional frailties governing security and the economic dysfunctions that create vulnerabilities to crime.

“We must also counter the ideological mischief that has pervaded the discourse of peace and security in the region. The solution we seek is a region where every trade is safe, where every group is at peace and where the policing and military presence of the state is optimal,’’ he added.

He highlighted the security crises facing the North ranging from the clashes between herders and farmers to cattle rustling, noting that the cycles of crime and violence had ruptured the ideas of oneness upon which the North revolved.

The ex-Lagos governor disclosed the measures so far taken to address the security challenges.

“Our first decision was to task our brothers from the North-West and the North-East with the defence and security of the region.

“Our military forces, through various operations such as ‘Operation Hadin Kai’ and ‘Operation Safe Haven,’ have made true their promise to the nation by targeting insurgent groups like Boko Haram and bandits who have held us ransom for too long.

“Through enhanced border security and intelligence capabilities, we have disrupted and dismantled criminal networks,’’ he declared.

Tinubu said his government was also strengthening collaborations among the armed forces and other security agencies to ensure a unified approach.

To proffer pragmatic solutions to the security challenges in the North-West, Tinubu hinted that his administration adopted kinetic and non-kinetic interventions designed to build the perimeter of the nation’s security infrastructure.

He noted, “The kinetic and non-kinetic interventions we have pursued are designed to build the perimeter of our security infrastructure to the point that every child who goes to school returns safely, every person who sets out on a trip arrives at their destination securely, every trader who goes to the market conducts their transactions without fear, and every farmer plant seeds and harvests their produce in secure environments. We cannot achieve this unless we come together.”

He mentioned the Pulaku resettlement initiative as one of the non-kinetic interventions, describing it as a timely solution to address some of the root causes of disputes and insecurity in the region.

The Federal Government had, in February 2024, said it would commence the Pulaku Initiative, a large-scale resettlement programme to address the root causes of incessant clashes between farmers and herders in various flashpoints nationwide.

Pulaku also called the “Fulani code of conduct,” is an integral cultural and ethical value system specific to the Fulani.

The programme will initially focus on seven states disproportionately affected by farmers-herders conflicts: Sokoto, Kebbi, Benue, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, and Kaduna.

Tinubu explained that “Our choice of Sokoto, Kebbi, Benue, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, and Kaduna States for the pilot phase is strategically planned to create positive, nationwide transformations.”

He added, “The comprehensive plan includes building residences, roads, schools, and essential facilities, fulfilling our pledge to the nation,” he continued, adding that this effort symbolises his commitment to sustainable development and a unified, peaceful, and prosperous Nigeria, transforming its diversity into strength.

Tinubu explained that Northern Nigeria was always considered globally as one unified people, stating that the region’s unity is firmly “rooted in a culture and bond of shared interests and common pursuits.”

He stated, “Who else can better understand the complexity of the crisis of a region than the people themselves? What we are witnessing across the North is an explosion of these damaged relationships, and we have come to say: enough is enough. Our first decision was to task our brothers from the North-West and the North-East with the defence and security of the region.’’

Katsina gov

In his welcome address, Katsina State Governor, Umaru Radda, lamented that the activities of banditry in the state and other parts of the North-West, including Niger State, had cast shadows on most of the communities, crippling socio-economic activities in the areas.

Radda, who is the Chairman of the North-West Governors’ Forum, noted that the forum would not allow the menace of banditry to defile the region.

He said, “As leaders, we must adopt a multifaceted approach that includes robust intelligence gathering, community policing, and deploying advanced security technology.

“Furthermore, to enhance the capacity of our national security forces, we will continue to improve it and provide adequate resources.

“To effectively combat banditry, we need to strengthen intelligence gathering networks. This means improving our surveillance system, investing in modern technology such as drones and satellite imagery and enhancing coordination among security agencies. We must establish the most efficient communication to ensure timely response to threats.”

Radda thanked the President for the efforts in tackling banditry in the North-West and other parts of the country, saluting the efforts of the security agencies.

The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, stressed the need for synergy between security agencies and governors.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, who was at the event, said the traditional institutions were always willing to cooperate with the federal and state governors to tackle the security challenges.

The monarch called on the citizens and communities to join hands with the government and security agencies to combat the country’s insecurity.

Germany’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Günther, who was represented at the event, assured Nigeria of the support of the German government in the fight against insecurity, just as she emphasised the need to reactivate traditional solutions to the conflict in the North-West.

Also, the UNDP Country Representative to Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, called for investment in the youth to channel their potential towards profitable ventures, even as she emphasised the importance of regional cooperation.

The summit was also attended by the immediate past President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari; Governors Umar Namadi of Jigawa State, Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State as well as the Deputy Governors of Kaduna, Kebbi and Kano States. Federal lawmakers from the region were also in attendance.

Others were former Governors of Katsina State, Aminu Masari and Ibrahim Shema; Minister of Arts and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Abubakar; Emir of Daura, Umar Umar; Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumuni Usman; representatives of other security chiefs, and members of the Diplomatic Corps, among others.

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