The Northern Governors Forum (NGF) yesterday made a case for the intensification of the ongoing fight against banditry across the region by the Federal Government.
It pledged its own total collaboration with the federal authorities and relevant agencies to end the menace.
The governors donated N180million as an emergency aid to the victims of the December 3 accidental bombing at Tudun Biri in Kaduna State.
The financial assistance came on a day the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa pledged compensation by the military to the victims and vowed that the military authorities would punish anyone indicted by the panel probing the bombing.
The NGF,in a communiqué at the end of a meeting in Kaduna yesterday hailed the Federal Government for its renewed fight against insecurity, kidnapping, banditry, communal clashes and terrorism, bedeviling the region.
It resolved to stand united in its commitment to addressing those challenges through enhanced collaboration with security agencies, strengthening local law enforcement.
The forum also resolved to address the environmental challenges affecting the north, which are threatening rural livelihood, pushing farmers into conflict with herders and compounding the general level of poverty and insecurity.
Chairman of the forum, Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Yahaya,said he and his colleagues would vigorously pursue the collective interest of the north in areas of enhanced security, peaceful coexistence, economic development, youth employment, drug abuse and revitalisation of education at all levels.
The governors commiserated with the Tudun Biri community over the accidental bombing and prayed for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives and the speedy recovery of the injured while appreciating the Federal Government for handling the matter well.
They gave them a donation of N180m to meet their immediate needs.
Yahaya said:”I want to assure you that all the Northern governors are working assiduously to ensure that the unfortunate incident is thoroughly investigated with the view to compensating the victims and take corrective measures so as to prevent future occurrence.
“As governors of Northern State, while we are commending the Federal Government over the fight against insecurity, we believe that more need to be done to bring an end to kidnapping, banditry, communal clashes and terrorism bedeviling our region.
“Security and development are connected and we must apply them collectively. Without security there will be no development because investors can only invest in an environment where their resources are secured. Infrastructure, educational development and agriculture can only flourish in the atmosphere of peace and security.
“Similarly, our people can only go to farms and pursue other economic livelihoods and other social activities when their safety is guaranteed. Therefore addressing insecurity, and other challenges is crucial to the overall development and wellbeing of the region. In this regard all the 19 Northern governors are united in our commitment to addressing those challenges.”
