With over 130 lives lost in violent attacks across Northern Nigeria in the past fortnight, governors from the region’s 19 states are meeting today in Kaduna to confront the escalating security crisis.
The summit, spearheaded by Gombe State Governor and NGF Chairman Muhammad Yahaya, was scheduled in the wake of growing insecurity caused by terror groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and the rising Mahmuda (Mallam) faction.
According to Gombe’s spokesperson, Ismaila Misilli, the primary focus will be on collaborative security efforts—though he emphasized this was not an emergency session.
The urgency follows brutal incidents like the May 7 Boko Haram ambush in Borno, where military officers lost their lives; and the May 4 Bauchi massacre, where bandits killed 25 people during a confrontation with vigilantes. The same day, another 19 individuals died in a livestock raid.
Northern states have been the hardest hit, with widespread killings reported from Sokoto to Benue and Yobe.
The Mahmuda group’s rise has intensified the region’s vulnerability, adding to the threats posed by existing insurgents and bandit groups.
Katsina Governor Dikko Radda, chair of the North-West Governors’ Forum, confirmed his attendance but admitted uncertainty about the final agenda.
Discussions are expected to propose tougher, region-wide countermeasures.
North-West governors met separately Friday night at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna in anticipation of today’s broader NGF meeting.