From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna.
Chairman of the Northern State Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Governor of Niger State, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has reiterated the forum’s recommendations to the Federal Government for implementation.
The Forum after their last meeting in Kaduna urged Federal government to deploy more security personnel with superior military equipment as well as adopt measures to boost their morale to enable them effectively fight the insurgents and other threats to security in the region.
Governor Aliyu who was reacting to the killing on Saturday of 29 persons by unknown gunmen in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State also urged the military to review its counter-insurgency strategy to protect innocent citizens who are being killed daily by members of the Boko Haram.
In a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, the forum further reiterated its appeal to the federal government to “provide adequate funds to Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states afflicted with the problem of insurgency in order to address attendant issues.”
It hailed the military for restricting trans-border movements between Nigeria and Cameroon, urging security agencies to do all within their powers to halt the killing of innocent lives in the region.
Northern Governors had at the end of their meeting in Kaduna on Monday agreed to adopt a common approach towards combating insecurity in the region.
In the communiqué, the forum agreed to down play political differences and work towards a common goal of a united, peaceful and a prosperous North.
The state Governors also agreed to vigorously pursue employment and youth empowerment programmes as a way of taking idle youths off the streets.
