By Omowale Mercy
On Monday, December 1, 2025, the 19 northern governors and the chairmen of the region’s traditional councils gathered at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna for a joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council. The atmosphere was described as “exhaustive and crucial,” with leaders coming together to tackle the spiralling insecurity that’s been gripping the North.
The headline decision was a six‑month suspension of all mining activities across the region. They argued that illegal mining has become a major driver of banditry and insurgency, siphoning funds to armed groups and destabilising rural communities. By halting operations, the authorities hope to carry out a comprehensive audit and revalidate licences in consultation with state governments.
Equally high on the agenda was the push for state police. The forum reaffirmed its “wholehearted support” for establishing state policing, urging federal and state lawmakers to fast‑track the constitutional amendments needed to make it a reality .Leaders believe decentralised policing could be a game‑changer in responding to local threats more swiftly.
To fund the new security architecture, the governors approved a regional Security Trust Fund. Each state and its local governments will contribute ₦1 billion monthly, deducted at source, to finance joint operations, intelligence sharing and other coordinated measures across the North.
In their communiqué, the leaders praised President Bola Tinubu for his recent emergency declaration and the successful rescue of abducted schoolchildren, while also extending condolences to the families affected by recent killings and abductions in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kano, Borno and Yobe .They said the president’s actions signal a strong federal commitment to tackling the crisis.
Finally, the forum announced it would reconvene at a later date to review progress, reaffirming a collective commitment to unity, stability and the development of the region. It’s a bold, coordinated stand that many hope will turn the tide on insecurity in the North.
