Northern governors, traditional rulers call for mining freeze, renew push for state police
Alarmed by the surge in killings, kidnappings and insurgent attacks across several northern states, governors and traditional rulers from the region have recommended an immediate six-month suspension of mining activities as part of broader efforts to restore security.
The proposal was contained in a communiqué issued after a joint session of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council, which met on Monday at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna.
The meeting was chaired by Gombe State Governor and NSGF Chairman, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, and attended by all 19 northern governors and the heads of the traditional councils.
Leaders at the gathering expressed deep concern over the steady escalation of violence, citing recent mass abductions, deadly attacks, and renewed Boko Haram activity in states such as Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Kwara, Kogi, Jigawa, Kano, Borno, and Yobe.
They described the targeting of schoolchildren and other civilians as intolerable tragedies requiring urgent and coordinated intervention.
In the communiqué, the Forum extended condolences to affected communities and commended the Federal Government for its response to recent abductions, particularly the rescue of some kidnapped pupils.
They also praised military and security personnel for their continued sacrifices on the frontlines.
The leaders said illegal mining had become a major driver of insecurity in the North, linking criminal operations around mineral sites to banditry, armed attacks, and the financing of violent groups.
To address this, they resolved to advise President Bola Tinubu to direct the Solid Minerals Ministry to halt mining operations for six months while a full audit of licences is conducted.
They also want all existing mining permits revalidated in collaboration with state governments during the suspension period.
A central feature of the meeting was the region’s renewed demand for the establishment of state police, which the governors and traditional rulers described as a necessary reform to effectively confront pervasive security threats.
They urged northern lawmakers at both the federal and state levels to accelerate the legislative process required to make decentralised policing a reality.
In addition, the Forum announced plans for a landmark Regional Security Trust Fund intended to strengthen joint security initiatives.
Under the proposal, each state would contribute N1 billion monthly, with deductions made directly at source under an agreed framework.
The meeting ended with a pledge to maintain unity and cooperation across the region and reconvene at a later date to review progress on the agreed measures.
The communiqué was signed by Governor Yahaya on behalf of the Forum.
