North-East traditional rulers are sponsors of banditry in the region, Governors Forum reveals

By Samuel Abasiekong-Abasiekong

The Governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States have identified the source and sponsors of banditry in the North-East region of Nigeria.

The Governors who pointedly accused some traditional rulers for accomodating some bandits, further said local authorities in the North East also give coverage to bandits to operate.

The revelation which is part of the Communiqué issued at the end of the 8th meeting of the North-East Governors’ Forum – NEGF
held in Maiduguri, Borno State on Saturday, 9th- September, 2023 sounded like a warning to traditional rulers and local authorities facilitating the spread of banditry in sub-region that the Forum will henceforth deal decisively with the accomplices.

The six governor of the region who triggered the alarm expressed worries over the spread of banditry in the North East said the case is becoming worse in Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba and they expressed surprise that these places were not recording cases of banditry in the past.

The Communiqué further knowledged the relative success recorded against insurgency in the country but drew attention of the military on a new dimension of growing banditry worsening the security situation in the subregion.

The Forum calls on the Federal Government to urgently intervene to address this issue.

The Communiqué of the 8th meeting of the Forum signed by Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, Governor of Borno State and Chairman of NEGF addressed other issues such as illegal mining, education, transportation in the sub-region among others.