Banditry worsening situation in Northeast – NEGF raises alarm

Northeast Governors have raised concern over a new dimension of growing banditry, worsening the security situation in the subregion.

The Governors under the aegis of the North-East Governors’ Forum raised the concern in a communique issued at the end of their 8th meeting held on Saturday in Maiduguri.

The communique read, “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 parts of the country, the bandits are now moving towards the Northeast”, the Forum said.

According to the Forum, the case is becoming worse in Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba, places hitherto without banditry.

The bloc of governors then called 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, giving them shelter and cover to commit crimes within the subregion”, they alleged.

The governors unanimously resolved to decisively deal with any traditional ruler or community leader that is found to be harbouring or conniving with the bandits.

The Forum also resolved to hold its 9th meeting in Yola, Adamawa State between Friday 3rd – 4th November 2023.