Zamfara, Katsina govs discuss security strategies with defence minister, NSA

In a concerted effort to tackle the escalating insecurity in northern Nigeria, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal and his Katsina State counterpart, Dikko Umar Radda, have engaged in closed-door meetings with key security figures. The two governors met separately with the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, on Tuesday.

According to a statement released by Sulaiman Bala Idris, spokesperson for the Zamfara governor, the discussions focused on recommendations from the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) security committee. This committee had earlier organised a two-day roundtable discussion chaired by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, on January 23, 2024, in Abuja.

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The statement noted, “Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State and Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State met with Defence Minister Badaru Abubakar at the Ministry of Defence in Abuja. The governors deliberated on crucial issues concerning insecurity and explored ways to enhance collaboration between the two states and the Ministry of Defence.”

Following the defence ministry talks, both governors joined the Defence Minister at the office of the National Security Adviser for further deliberations. During this meeting, the recommendations from the CNG’s security summit were adopted. The summit, chaired by high-ranking officials including Nastura Ashiru Shariff, Chairman of the CNG Board of Trustees, and Bashir Yusuf, Chairman of the group’s Security Committee, provided actionable insights into addressing the region’s insecurity challenges.

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The statement highlighted that the adoption of the CNG’s recommendations is a major step forward in the ongoing efforts to combat banditry and insecurity across Northern Nigeria. Both governors expressed optimism that their coordinated approach with federal security agencies would lead to substantial improvements in the security situation in Zamfara and Katsina states.

These strategic security collaborations come amid growing concerns over the spread of violent banditry and other forms of criminality in the northern regions, which have left many communities devastated.