Alarmed by the worsening insecurity across the country, northern governors and traditional rulers have proposed a six-month suspension of mining activities across the region.

The recommendation was contained in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna. The meeting, chaired by the Governor of Gombe State and NSGF Chairman, Mr. Muhammadu Yahaya, was attended by all 19 northern governors and the chairmen of the traditional councils of the 19 states.

The leaders cited illegal mining as a major driver of insecurity and expressed grave concern over escalating violence in parts of the North, including recent killings and abductions in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano states, as well as renewed Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe.

“The Forum extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the governments and good people of the affected states,” the communiqué stated.

They described attacks on schoolchildren and other citizens as “unacceptable tragedies” requiring urgent collective action.

The regional leaders commended President Bola Tinubu for what they called the Federal Government’s “firm response” to recent abductions and insurgency threats, particularly the rescue of some abducted pupils. They also applauded security agencies for their frontline sacrifices.

“We resolved to renew our support for every step taken by the President and Commander-in-Chief to take the fight to insurgents’ enclaves in order to end the criminality,” the Forum said.

A major highlight of the meeting was the region’s renewed push for the establishment of state police. The governors and traditional rulers insisted that decentralised policing was now inevitable.

“The Forum reaffirms its wholehearted support and commitment to the establishment of state police,” the communiqué added, urging federal and state legislators from the region to “expedite action for its actualisation.”