President Muhammadu Buhari has urged governors of the 19 Northern states to build a strong collaboration with security agencies to collectively fight crime which has bedevilled their region North.
The President who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, spoke at a meeting of Northern governors in Kaduna.
His call was made known in a statement by Mamman Mohammed, Director Press and Media Affairs to Governor Buni.
He said he had tasked the new security chiefs to deploy new measures to effectively tackle the problem of insecurity.
President Buhari also urged Nigerians to see the threat to peace and security in any part of Nigeria as a threat to all.
Earlier, the Governor of Plateau state and Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Barrister Simon Bako Lalong, said the meeting was targeted at addressing insecurity, poverty, education, agriculture and youth development among others.
Similarly, the Chairman Northern traditional rulers and Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar commended the governors for the meeting saying, it was both timely and important given the challenge of insecurity that has gripped the region.
He said the menace of farmers/herders conflicts, kidnapping, illiteracy, Street begging and others, need urgent attention to restore peace in the region.
The Sultan assured that the traditional institutions were always ready to support, cooperate and partner with political leaders to find lasting solutions to the threat to peace and security in the North and the country.
“We are confronting the various challenges of insecurity that continue to slow down all economic activities of the present government. The government continues to deal with insurgents, bandits, kidnappers and criminals causing havoc to innocent in the country. Criminals are criminals and should be dealt with as criminals accordingly without resorting to ethnic violence.” Said Buhari
“I expect that at this meeting, it will discuss and devise ways of bringing stronger collaboration with the security architecture, security personnel and the people to curb all forms of insecurity in the country,” President Buhari advised.
“The recent ugly incidences of kidnap school children in Government Science Secondary School Kagara, Niger State as well as travelling passengers further reminds us of the difficult situation we face and the need for us to redouble our efforts in overcoming them. This meeting provides us with the opportunity to do so.”
“At all times, we must identify, isolate and punish crime no matter who commits it rather than resort to labelling and generalization that shields the criminals and generates tension for the innocent.”
“As for enhancing the economy of the North, we should be able to rise from this meeting with concrete steps to take on how best to create opportunities for our teeming youth population. We must ensure that we productively engage our people by reviving our moribund industries that once employed thousands as well as see to it that agriculture is driven by value chain addition.
“We have the manpower and potentials to not only end poverty and hunger but also drive the economic diversification of the nation in line with the policy direction of the Federal Government,” he assured.
