North-Central Govs Send Requests to FG on Insecurity
Governors of the North-Central zone of Nigeria rose from a meeting on Monday with a resolve to collaborate in tackling insecurity and other development challenges.
Governors of Kwara, Niger, Kogi, Benue, and Niger were all in attendance while that of Nasarawa was represented by his deputy and that of Plateau represented by the secretary to the state government.
The meeting was held under the aegis of North-Central Governors Forum (NCGF), and the chairman, Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubarka Sani Bello, said in a communique issued at the end of the meeting held in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, they focused more on issues that will create regional development with national interest as their guiding principle.
According to him, “after indepth deliberations, the Forum resolve to appeal to the federal government to support the region on its ongoing digital technology projects and other security preventive measures to assist them in the fight against all forms of criminalities”
They also appealed for the need to establish military camps or training grounds in the forest zone with heavy weapons as well as armoured unit track and armoured vehicles to block movement of hoodlums invading the region.
While calling for the involvement of traditional rulers and community leaders in the area of intelligence gathering and sharing, in order to assist security agencies, the Forum also stressed the need for the Nigeria Police to synergise with State Governments in the recruitment of community policemen to help in the provision of adequate security at the grassroots.
“We also resolve that there is every need for member states to share intelligence and also create a multi-layer intelligence gathering and as well partnership with the Federal Government agencies such as Immigration and Custom Services to track the proliferation of light and small weapons.”
