The Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, has highlighted marginalisation of herders as a key factor driving insecurity in northern Nigeria. Speaking in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, he stressed that failing to address the grievances that push armed groups into criminal activity worsens the region’s security challenges.
Governor Yahaya revealed that the 19 northern governors have agreed to set up a joint regional security coordination agency. Each state will contribute ₦1 billion monthly to strengthen collective responses to banditry, kidnappings, and the widespread closure of schools. This decision followed a recent surge in attacks that have left communities in fear and forced many schools to shut down.
He explained that a significant part of the insecurity stems from the marginalisation and unjust treatment of pastoralist communities. This exclusion has created frustration and resentment, conditions that criminal networks exploit to recruit and operate. “Addressing the root causes social exclusion, lack of justice, and economic hardship—is central to ending the conflict,” he said.
The new regional security framework is designed to enhance intelligence sharing, coordinate joint operations, and implement preventive strategies across northern states. Governor Yahaya believes that a unified approach will significantly improve the region’s ability to respond to threats and restore stability.
