In a major response to escalating banditry and insecurity, Northern governors and traditional rulers on Monday called for a six-month suspension of all mining activities across the region.
The leaders firmly blamed illegal mining operations for contributing to the worsening security crisis in many states.
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The joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council, held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna, also announced a groundbreaking financial plan to combat terrorism.
Under the new arrangement, the northern leaders plan to mobilize ₦228 billion annually to fight the bandits terrorizing communities.
The leaders stated that the proposed ₦228 billion fund would provide sustainable financing for joint operations, intelligence-driven interventions, and coordinated security responses across the entire Northern region. The details were contained in a communiqué issued after the meeting.
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