Thursday, 24th June 2021: Northern Governors on Wednesday met with President Muhammadu Buhari over the worsening insecurity in the region as insurgents and bandits continue to wreak havoc on the region.

Speaking to State House correspondents, Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle said the president assured them that actions will be taken soon.

“We discussed security, not just myself, but the Northern region, because of the current escalation of insecurity. I briefed him and the governor of Niger State also briefed him. The president has assured us that action will be taken about what we have discussed about the issue of insecurity,” he said.

On the situation in Zamfara State, Matawalle said, “For now, for the past four days, no incidence had been recorded, but we are doing our best and the security agencies are also doing their best to make sure that they tackle all the challenges.

“I assure you that we are on top of the matter and the President has assured all of us that he’s going to take more measures on the issue of insecurity in the northern parts of the country.”

When asked if it is safe to assume that calm is returning to the entire north, he said, “I can say yes, because in the past four months we didn’t have much of this crisis, but it’s gradually coming back, but the security agencies are doing their best now, particularly from the new security architecture that we have adopted now. We are having some improvements on the challenges.”

On farmers returning to the farm, he said, “Yes, with action and the roadmap that we have drawn, between the government and the security agencies, we are doing our best to make sure that farmers go back to their farms, and they will be able to farm, insha Allahu.

Similarly, the Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu, conferred with President Buhari over the bandits’ attack on Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting on Tuesday night, he underscored the need for all Nigerians to come together and tackle criminalities in the country.

He also lauded the security agencies for rescuing some pupils and teachers and urged more support to them from all Nigerians to end the challenges of insecurity across the country.

He said, “I visited Mr. President, President Muhammadu Buhari, to brief him about the unfortunate incidents in Kebbi State, at the Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, where a number of bandits overwhelmed the security agencies and abducted a number of pupils, teaching staff and non-teaching staff and the regrettable loss of life by a police officer in the process and some pupils also, and those who were wounded in the process, and those who are still in the hands of the terror gang even though some successes have been commendably achieved by the rescue of some pupils and teachers.

“I explained to him that the security agencies have mobilised and are doing a great job, assisted by the military, the Air Force, the police, civil defence, vigilante and community leaders. They are still at it and they’re doing a great job, but we need more support from all Nigerians and, in fact, all to ensure that we give them our maximum cooperation to finish what they have started.

“President has always expressed sympathy to those innocent persons who are held hostage against their will by terror elements and he condemned the action of all terror groups – wherever they are, whether they are bandits, Boko Haram, or any group that is taking away the liberty and freedoms and, in fact, lives and livelihoods of others. He maintained the instruction he has always given to the security agencies – to give their maximum best in dealing with those criminal elements.

‘Our stand, I have made it very clear, this is condemnable, this should not happen and all people of goodwill, all good people should mobilise to confront evil and evil elements and criminal elements in our society. It’s not just a job for the security agencies; we have to support them. We have to mobilise.

“Since I made that statement, which I meant by every stretch of the imagination, many groups have come out to demonstrate similar support and we have seen mobilisation by the Niger State governor and I believe we’ll see more in the coming days.