NEGF blows hot, threatens to sanction traditional rulers harbouring bandits

From Godwin Agia, Jalingo

The North-East Governor’s Forum (NEGF) has sent a strong warning to monarchs harboring unknown person amid bandits activities in the North-East sub-region.
The Forum frowned at the increase of activities of banditry terrorizing State like Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba with hundreds killed in recent time, and the need to call the traditional rulers to order.
The Governors under the aegis of the North-East Governor’s Forum (NEGF) unveiled they decision in a ten point communique signed by its Chairman, Prof. Babagana Umaru Zulum during the end of their eight meeting held in Maduguri, Borno State on Saturday 9, September.
People’sdaily gathered that, those present at the meeting were Governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, and Yobe with the Governors of Gombe and Taraba represented by the Deputy Governors.
The communique read in parts, “The Forum appreciated the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Senator Kashim Shettima for gracing the opening ceremony of the 8th meeting of the NEGF and the Government and People of Borno State for hosting the event.
“While acknowledging the relative success recorded against insurgency, a new dimension of growing banditry is added to worsen the security situation in the subregion. As a result of the concerted efforts of the Military to flush bandits from the other parts of the country, the bandits are now moving towards the Northeast. The case is becoming worse in Bauchi, Gombe, and Taraba, places hitherto without banditry. The Forum calls on the Federal Government to urgently intervene to address this issue.
“The Forum is aware that some traditional rulers and other local authorities are conniving with the bandits, sheltering them and covering them to commit crimes within the subregion. The Forum unanimously resolved to decisively deal with any Traditional ruler or community leader that is found to be harboring or conniving with the bandits.”