Posted by Northeast Governors have expressed alarm about a new dimension of rising banditry, which is deteriorating the subregion’s security situation.
The governors highlighted the matter in a communique issued at the end of their 8th meeting on Saturday in Maiduguri, under the auspices of the North-East Governors’ Forum.
“While acknowledging the relative success recorded against insurgency, a new dimension of growing banditry is added to worsen the security situation in the subregion,” stated the bulletin.
“As a result of the military’s concerted efforts to flush bandits from various parts of the country, the bandits are now moving towards the Northeast,” the Forum stated.
According to the Forum, the situation is deteriorating in Bauchi, Gombe, and Taraba, which had previously been free of bandits.
The governors’ group then urged the federal government to move immediately to remedy the problem.
“The Forum is aware that some traditional rulers and other local authorities are collaborating with the bandits, providing them with shelter and cover to commit crimes throughout the subregion,” they claimed.
The governors agreed unanimously to deal decisively with any traditional ruler or community leader found to be harboring or conspiring with the bandits.
The Forum also agreed to convene its 9th meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, on November 3rd and 4th, 2023.