7 Northern Govs Again Meet On Dreaded Forests

Governors of North Western States and Niger met again in Kaduna on Saturday to review the security approach towards ending cattle rustling and other security challenges in Kamuku and Kuyanbana Forests.
Yesterday’s meeting came on the heels of a previous one in June by Governors Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Abubakar Bello Sani (Niger), Aminu Masari (Katsina), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and Abdul’aziz Yari (Zamfara), where a joint security operation was formed against criminal elements hiding inside the Kamuku Forest.
Meanwhile, at the Saturday’s review meeting held alongside security chiefs, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State and his Sokoto counterpart, Aminu Tambuwal, had joined the five other governors to avoid spillover of security challenges around their states when criminals are eventually flushed out of the forest.
Briefing newsmen after the closed door meeting which lasted for three hours, Governor Tambuwwal said they will leave no stone unturned to ensure maximum security in their domain.
He noted that the collaborative approach adopted by the states surrounding Kamuku and Kuyanbana Forests has paid off, as it has started yielding positive results.
According to Tambuwwal, “We have resolved to support the security agencies both material, financially and morally to improved security situation and ensure that there is no hideout for criminals in the North-west sub-region.
“The collaboration between the states and Federal Government has been very helpful. So, we just sat to review the way forward and how to bring about peaceful coexistence in our region.
“With reports reaching us so far from the security operatives, we are satisfied that the operation is successful and moving smoothly. And we are hopeful that in no distance future, peace will return to the region.
“Initially, it was only five states of Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara, Katsina and Kebbi but today other states like Sokoto and Kano have decided to join hands with the movement to ensure that no hideout for the criminals or terrorists.
“So far, we have made lot of arrests and recovery of property belonging to innocent persons and were returned back to their owners. But it is still ongoing and we will brief you adequately at the end of the operations on the successes recorded.
“We are calling on the people to cooperate and support us by making available necessary information and by reporting suspicious movement around their neighbourhood to security operatives to ensure they are apprehended”.