The 19 Northern governors are set to meet in Kaduna on November 29, 2025, in an urgent bid to confront the escalating insecurity gripping the region. The emergency meeting follows a similar gathering held by South-West governors in Ibadan on Monday, where a renewed call for state police was strongly endorsed.
Peter Ahemba, Senior Special Assistant to Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, confirmed the scheduled meeting during a briefing in Lafia. He stated that the worsening situation—including widespread school closures and a surge in kidnappings—necessitated immediate coordinated action among Northern states.
Ahemba explained that the governors would focus on concrete measures to tackle the rising wave of banditry, kidnappings, and attacks on educational institutions. Over recent weeks, Northern Nigeria has seen a disturbing spike in assaults targeting students and staff, pushing several states to shut schools temporarily.
Last week, armed attackers stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, abducting at least 24 students and killing a vice principal. Days later, gunmen raided St. Mary’s Catholic Schools in Papiri, Niger State, where more than 300 students and staff were taken hostage, though about 50 later escaped.
According to Ahemba, Governor Sule—who chairs the North Central Governors Forum—cut short his trip to the G20 Summit in South Africa to address the crisis. Nasarawa State also held an internal emergency security meeting on Monday, focusing on surveillance reinforcement and support for security agencies.
“The government is on red alert, and security agencies are well equipped to respond,” Ahemba stressed, assuring residents that every possible measure was being implemented to prevent further escalation.
The planned Kaduna meeting coincides with intensified regional security coordination in the South-West, where governors have launched new initiatives to counter banditry and forest-based criminal operations. At their Ibadan meeting, the governors reaffirmed support for the establishment of state police, stating that the time for decentralised policing “can no longer be delayed.”
The South-West also announced the creation of a regional security fund under the DAWN Commission, alongside a digital intelligence-sharing platform designed to improve rapid response and cross-border coordination. They urged the Federal Government to deploy forest guards across the region to reclaim forest belts used as hideouts by criminal elements.
Governors further expressed concern over unregulated interstate migration and illegal mining activities, noting their potential links to rising insecurity. They pledged stronger border monitoring, identity verification, and enforcement measures to curb such activities.
In Plateau State, Governor Caleb Mutfwang is preparing to unveil a comprehensive security plan amid rising concerns and recent school closures. His aide, Yiljap Abraham, said discussions with security chiefs were ongoing, although specifics were yet to be released.
Other Northern states have also begun taking independent steps. In Kebbi, the government has hosted security summits bringing together traditional rulers and regional broadcasters to explore solutions. Kano State recently enhanced its security fleet, allocating vehicles and motorcycles to bolster operations in hotspot local government areas.
Meanwhile, Bauchi State announced the immediate closure of all schools—public, private, and federal—due to heightened risk of attacks. The Ministry of Education urged residents to remain calm and vigilant, emphasizing that protecting students was the government’s top priority.
“We urge the public not to panic,” ministry spokesman Jalaludeen Usman said. “Security agencies are coordinating responses to ensure academic activities resume once it is safe.”
As insecurity spreads across Northern Nigeria, the upcoming governors’ meeting in Kaduna is expected to be pivotal in shaping a unified regional response. The nation now watches closely as leaders work to restore safety in vulnerable communities.
