Northern governors, Monguno, others meet over rising insecurity

Kaduna, SOKAPU ex-spokesman disagree over alleged invasion

Disturbed by the escalating insecurity in the region, the 19 northern state governors have met with heads of security agencies and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd), in Abuja to address the menace frontally.

Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle of Zamfara State made the disclosure after a closed door meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, at the State House, Abuja. Briefing reporters thereafter, he said his state had resolved to adopt the carrot and stick approach in dealing with criminality.

The governor added that repentant bandits had been reintegrated into the society, while those that shunned dialogue were being made to face the full wrath of the law.

Also, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, yesterday met with the service chiefs to re-strategise and enhance existing collaborations against the lingering security challenges.

The parley followed the recent riot act by President Muhammadu Buhari where the top law enforcement agents were ordered to redouble their efforts. The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, in a statement, said the well-attended gathering “centered on developing and mapping out new strategies to promptly address the untoward security situation arising from banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling as well as other sundry criminalities particularly in the North West, North East and North Central.”

However, the Kaduna government has faulted the claim that the Zangang Hill in Kauru council area of the state was attacked by 600 hoodlums. Making the dismissal through the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, the state government insisted that no one was found in the area when the military stormed the vicinity on receipt of the invasion alarm.

But former spokesman of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), Reuben Buhari, disagreed with the position.