Countering Organized Crime in Nigeria

North-east governors Sunday accused traditional rulers and local authorities of collaborating with bandits to terrorise innocent citizens.

Their position is coming on the heel of increased activities of bandits and terrorists in some states within the region, leading to loss of lives and properties. 


But rising from its meeting in Maiduguri, Borno state, the governors, under the aegis of the North-East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) threatened to sanction any monarch caught in the act. 

In a communiqué issued and signed by the NEGF Chairman and Borno state Governor Babagana Zulum at the end of their eighth meeting Saturday, they promised to deal decisively with any traditional rulers found collaborating with bandits.

The communiqué said: “The Forum is aware that some traditional rulers and other local authorities are conniving with the bandits, giving them shelter and cover 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.”

The Forum observed that the rising cases of banditry in the six states of the region, particularly in Bauchi, Gombe, and Taraba states was caused by the aggressive military operations against them in other parts of the country.

They said: “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 out bandits from the other parts of the country, the bandits are now moving towards the North-East.

“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.”

They also said the proliferation of legal and illegal mining in the region was becoming a problem, noting that there is a link between mining activities and insecurity, especially the abuse of the mining leases.

In this regard, the “Forum, therefore, calls on the respective Governments to enforce compliance with the provisions of local consent as contained in Nigeria’s Mining Policy and reiterates its call for strict compliance with the provisions of the Land Use Act.”

The Forum further noted that climate change and environmental degradation which are major issues affecting the subregion were a source of great concern.

“The issue of flooding that has affected the states leading to the destruction of properties and loss of livelihoods is increasing the sufferings of the people. This has been compounded by the silting of our rivers as well as deforestation brought about by the massive charcoal business. There is a need for the Federal Government’s intervention in the area of desilting the rivers.

“Furthermore, there is the need for effective control on deforestation with stern regulation to local authorities against compromise to granting approvals for such business. The Forum has resolved to key into the Global Initiative of Carbon Credi, the Great Green Wall and other initiatives that will mitigate the devastating impact of climate change in the sub-region,” it stated.

The Forum noted with dismay the seeming neglect of road and railway infrastructure especially along the economic corridors that link the North-east zone to the rest of the country.

It stated that the roads from Enugu to Maiduguri are in deplorable State and equally worse is the railway from Enugu up to Maiduguri which has been destroyed.

“We called on the Federal Government to look into the situation and consider the reconstruction of these basic infrastructures along the Enugu-Maiduguri Economic Corridor because it is a major route for regional trade and very important for integration, peace building and improving national unity,” the communique added.

Zulum also said the body agreed that all the States within the region would domesticate the Education Law 2022, as recommended by the Northeast Education Council earlier constituted by the Forum.
Traditional rulers collaborating with bandits risk sanction – North-east govs
