Northern governors and traditional rulers have called for an immediate six-month suspension of mining activities across the region, warning that illegal mining has become a major driver of violent crime, banditry, and insurgency.
The demand was issued in a communiqué released after a joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council (NTRC) held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna. The meeting was chaired by Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, with all 19 northern governors and traditional council chairmen in attendance.
Insecurity Worsening Across North
The leaders expressed alarm over renewed killings, kidnappings, and terror attacks in several states, including Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kano, as well as fresh Boko Haram incursions in Borno and Yobe.
“These repeated attacks on schoolchildren and other innocent citizens are unacceptable tragedies that demand urgent collective action,” the communiqué read.
The Forum also commended President Bola Tinubu for the Federal Government’s “firm response” to recent abductions, especially the rescue of some kidnapped students.
Push for State Police Intensifies
One of the strongest resolutions from the meeting was the North’s united support for the establishment of state police. The governors insisted that decentralised policing had become “inevitable” to effectively confront banditry and terrorism.
The Forum urged federal and state lawmakers from the region to accelerate constitutional amendments needed to actualise state-level policing.
Illegal Mining Described as a Major Security Threat
The governors warned that criminal mining networks were fuelling armed groups by providing money, logistics, and operational cover.
“The Forum observed that illegal mining has become a major contributory factor to the security crises in Northern Nigeria,” the document stated.
They asked President Tinubu to instruct the Minister of Solid Minerals to impose a six-month suspension on all mining activities to allow for a comprehensive audit and revalidation of licences.
N1bn Monthly Security Trust Fund Launched
To strengthen security response capacity, the Forum announced the creation of a regional Security Trust Fund.
Under the plan, each state and its local governments will contribute ₦1 billion monthly, deducted at source, to support joint operations, intelligence gathering, and coordinated interventions.
Call for Unity
At the close of the meeting, leaders reaffirmed their commitment to regional collaboration.
“Only through unity, peer review, and cooperation can we overcome the pressing challenges before us,” the communiqué added.
The Forum will reconvene at a later date.
