War Against Terrorism: North East Governors Raise Alarm Over Influx Of Bandits

By Ayodele Oni

Few days after Northern Governors Forum united in support of state police to curtail insecurity arising from terrorism, a sister group, the North East Governors’ Forum, has raised the alarm that the zone could be vulnerable to the criminal activities of bandits, who are escaping the heavy fire power of security agencies in the North west.

The governors, who praised President Muhammadu Buhari and security agencies for the success recorded so far in minimizing and decimating the criminal Boko Haram terrorists in the Zone, expressed worries that the North East sub-region could again be vulnerable to banditry following the mass exodus of the criminal elements being pushed out of the North West by security forces.

Following marching order by President Mohammadu Buhari to security agencies, especially military to dislodge terrorists from their hideout in the north, there has been heavy bombardment, leading to killings and escape by some of the bandits.

The north east Governors noted that the way out of the seeming development was to launch a coordinated security roadmap in synergy with security agencies and the federal government

The governors, in a nine- point communiqué issued at the end of their 7th meeting in Gombe and signed by Profession Babagana Zulum Chairman North East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bornu State, also expressed sadness over the poor power supply to the zone.

According to the governors, despite the zone’s landmass and population which is put at 30 percent and 14 percent respectively, it received only a misery five percent of national allocation from the nation’s grid.

This, to them is ridiculous, given the insecurity state of the area, the high level of poverty and GDP status, and therefore call for urgent intervention of the Federal government through innovative remedies.

Such remedies include, investing in the production of comparatively cheap hydropower and renewable energy, as well as accelerating the execution of the Mambila hydroelectricity project

The communique; “The Northeast Governors’ Forum (NEGF), comprising of the Governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States, held its 7th meeting in Gombe, Gombe State.

“The Forum, lauded President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies for the effort in combating the Boko haram insurgency.

“It noted the improvement in the security situation in the region which had largely been achieved through kinetic and non-kinetic measures.

“The Forum, noted the relative peace being experienced in the subregion, especially the reduced incidences of Farmer-herder clashes, as encouraging.

“However, there is increasing vulnerability of the region to insecurity due to the mass movement of the bandits who are gradually being pushed out of the Northwest by the security forces.

“On the influx of the bandits, there is an urgent need to launch a coordinated security road map in conjunction with the security agencies and the Federal Government.

“The Forum, noted the link between mining activities and insecurity especially the abuse of the mining leases. It therefore resolved to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the Land Use Act.

“The Forum, again expressed concern on the parlous state of power supply in the north-east region, which at present receives less than 5% of national allocation of grid energy while accounting for 14% of the population and 30% of landmass.

“While noting the direct correlation between energy security and high level of poverty and our GDP status, it called on the Federal Government to introduce innovative strategies by investing in the production of comparatively cheaper hydropower and renewable energy.

“Related to this, the Federal Government is called upon to accelerate the execution of the Mambila hydroelectricity project.

“The Forum, noted the need to harness the vast untapped resources of the subregion by fostering integration in commerce as well as holding trade fairs with a view to attracting foreign investments.

“Forum therefore, urged the North-east Council of Chambers of Commerce to revive the Northeast Joint Trade Fair and commodity markets to stimulate economic activities.

“The Forum thanked the Federal Government for establishing the University of Health Sciences, in Azare to address the huge manpower deficit in the health sector and pledged to support the University to deliver on its mandate.

“The Forum, expressed grave concern about the devastating effect of flooding which is destroying homes and livelihood including road infrastructures.

“The Forum therefore calls on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency direct its relevant agencies to immediately deploy all necessary interventions to ameliorate the situation in the affected areas.”