Worried with the growing insecurity in most parts of Nigeria including the neighboring Niger Republic, a multilateral security stakeholders meeting has been convened by Governor Chuaibou Aboubacar of Maradi Region in the Niger Republic.
The security meeting held at the Banquet Hall of the General Muhammadu Buhari Government House, Katsina State on Tuesday, had in attendance the governors of Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi states in Nigeria as well as that of the Maradi Region in the Niger Republic.
The Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari, and his Sokoto State counterpart, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, were present at the meeting by the Kebbi State Deputy Governor, Sama’ila Yaubai, and his Zamfara State counterpart, Hassan Mohammed Nasiha respectively.
In his address during the opening session of the meeting, the Maradi Region Governor, Chuaibou Aboubacar, announced that the two affected countries are in trouble due to terrorist activities.
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“Participants at this meeting are one family, hence, we deem it necessary to sort ourselves out at mitigating the menace,” he said.
On his part, Governor Masari also decried the level of insecurity rocking Katsina, saying his administration has been taking several measures toward addressing the issue.
“We in Katsina State have built the capacity of traditional rulers and local government administrators to deal with the emerging real and potential threats in their respective areas of administration through the local content initiative.
“We also promoted the concept of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism, as provided by the State Multi-Door court process, enhancing and promoting Inter-security agencies liaison through the establishment of joint operations and information-sharing platform,” he added.
Meanwhile, the representatives of Kebbi and Zamfara State governors unanimously agreed that the significance of the meeting cannot be over-emphasized, especially as the two countries face common cross-border crimes of banditry, terrorism, illicit drug trafficking, and other related crimes.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Special Adviser to the Katsina State Governor on Security Matters, Ibrahim Ahmad Katsina, commended the initiative of the governors operating in the frontline regions which he said is part of their efforts toward containing the myriads of security challenges facing not only in Nigeria and Niger Republic but also, the entire West African sub-region.
“The security challenges we are facing have become a multinational phenomenon, requiring multi-dimensional approaches and strategies to contend with.
“This meeting is therefore a brotherhood-driven approach towards problem-solving, especially when problems and challenges seem to be complicated and overwhelming. Thus, the desire by the affected frontline States of Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi states to partner with our brothers from Maradi in the Niger Republic and other critical stakeholders, towards finding lasting and adaptable solutions to our problems and challenges as it affects security.
“As your host, we are ready to share with you the Katsina State model pursued by the administration of Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari in dealing with these challenges based on the realities on the ground,” he said.
