North-East Governors raise alarm over bandits relocating to their region

Governors in the North-East region of the country have raised an alarm of bandits relocating to the region.

This was conveyed in a nine-point communique issued by Governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Yobe state, and Taraba state (represented) at the end of the meeting which began on Friday night.

The North-East Governors outlined the need for a road map with the support of the Federal Government to dismantle bandits, adding that there is a nexus between mining activities and insecurity.

Asides from stressing the need for strict compliance with the Land Use Act, the Governors also said the power distribution in the region estimated at five percent is not enough and there is a need for the Federal Government to expedite action toward harnessing the potential of the Mambila power project.

The communique read;

“The forum lauded President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies for their 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 sub-region, 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 North-West 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.”