Governors and traditional rulers from Northern Nigeria have vowed to tackle insecurity in the region, following a joint meeting in Kaduna on Monday, December 1, 2025.

The meeting, held at the Kashim Ibrahim House, brought together governors and traditional rulers from 19 northern states, who expressed concerns over recent killings and abductions of school children and citizens in several states, including Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa, and Kano.

In a communiqué, the Forum commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to address security challenges and called for renewed support for the fight against insurgency.

The leaders also reaffirmed their support for the establishment of state police, urging National and State Assembly members to expedite its actualization.

Additionally, they recommended a six-month suspension of mining exploration to curb illegal mining, a major contributor to security crises in the region.

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To combat insecurity, the Forum resolved to establish a regional Security Trust Fund, with each state and local government contributing N1 billion monthly which is to be deducted at source under a framework to be agreed upon.

The Forum will reconvene soon to further discuss regional security and development.

Text of the communique:

“The meeting was attended by Their Excellencies, the Governors of the 19 Northern States and Their Royal Highnesses, The Chairmen of the 19 Northern States.
Traditional Rulers’ Councils. After exhaustive
deliberations on critical issues of common interest impacting both the region and the nation, the Forum hereby presents the following communiqué:
“1. The Forum commends all members and our Royal Fathers for their steadfast commitment to the unity, security, stability and development of the region. At this pivotal juncture in our history, we recognise that only through unity, peer review and cooperation can we overcome the pressing challenges before us. Accordingly, we reaffirm our resolve to confront these challenges with firmness and clarity in order to fulfill our constitutional responsibility.
“2. The Forum extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the Governments and good people of Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano States following the recent killings and abductions of school children and other innocent citizens, as well as to the victims of the Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe States.
“3. The Forum commends the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for leaving no stone unturned in ensuring the prompt release of some of the abducted children and in handling other security challenges. We equally commend the sacrifices of our servicemen in uniform who continue to battle various forms of violent insurgencies across the country.

“Consequently, the Forum resolved to renew its support for every step to be taken by the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria in taking the fight against insurgents to their enclave in order to bring an end to the criminality.
“4. The Forum reaffirms its wholehearted support and commitment to the establishment of State Police.

“Accordingly, the Forum encourages National and States Assembly Members in the region to expedite action for its actualisation.
“5. The Forum observed that illegal mining has become a major contributory factor to the security crises in Northern Nigeria, the Forum therefore resolved to strongly recommend to the President to direct the Hon. Minister of Solid Minerals to suspend mining exploration for a period of 6 (six) months to allow proper audit. Subject all mining Licences to revalidation for a period of six months in active consultation with the various State Governors and in the process arrest the menace of artisanal illegal mining.
“6. In order to effectively confront the security crises in the North, the Forum resolved to set-up a regional Security Trust Fund to be funded with monthly contribution of One Billion Naira from each state and local governments to be deducted at source under a framework to be agreed upon.
“7. Forum resolved to reconvene on a date to be communicated.”