The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar lII, has issued a powerful call for all northern stakeholders to unite against the growing threats of banditry, terrorism and kidnapping, declaring that security is not solely the responsibility of government agencies but a collective duty for every citizen. Speaking on Wednesday at a joint meeting of northern traditional rulers and governors in Kaduna, the Sultan emphasized that lasting peace can only be achieved through collaboration among governments, security forces, traditional institutions and the people themselves. He said security is everybodys responsibility and urged all to come together to fight the menace of terrorism and abduction to the best of their ability.
The monarchs address marked a turning point in the regions approach to insecurity as it coincided with the inauguration of the Board of Trustees for the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund, designed to mobilize resources and enhance intelligence coordination across the 19 northern states. The Sultan described the boards creation as a significant step forward and expressed confidence that the committee would bring practical solutions after years of talk and deliberation. He offered the full backing of traditional rulers, assuring board members they could rely on local knowledge and support at any time. He stressed that the fight against insecurity must rise above religious and ethnic divisions, insisting that unity remains the Norths greatest strength and the key to focus and progress.
Sultan Abubakar recalled that northern traditional rulers had consistently warned against violent extremism and had submitted recommendations to the Northern Governors Forum as far back as 2014. He reiterated that they never supported such violence and reaffirmed their commitment to peace. He urged governors to provide sustained funding for the security initiative, noting that no meaningful intervention can succeed without adequate financial resources. He expressed optimism that with unity, commitment and divine support, the region would overcome its security challenges, saying nothing is impossible when you believe in Almighty Allah.
The newly inaugurated board is co-chaired by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Yayale Ahmed and former Chief of Defence Staff General Martin Luther Agwai, and includes a host of retired senior military and police officers from across the northern states. Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, described the inauguration as the first major milestone in fulfilling the governors commitment to tackling insecurity in a coordinated and accountable manner. He disclosed that the 19 states and their local governments had agreed to contribute N1 billion monthly for one year to finance the initiative, with Nasarawa, Gombe, Borno, Kebbi and Kaduna states already commencing payments.
Governor Yahaya acknowledged the federal governments constitutional responsibility for national security but insisted that northern states must complement federal efforts through improved intelligence gathering, community resilience and regional cooperation. He warned that the fund must not become another bureaucratic structure but must deliver measurable improvements in security coordination, rapid response and protection of lives and property. He also reaffirmed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubus administration and the proposed establishment of state police while stressing that military operations alone would not end insecurity and greater investment in education, agriculture and youth empowerment is essential.
The meeting also saw northern governors and traditional rulers jointly back the establishment of state police as a critical step towards addressing Nigerias security challenges, expressing confidence that properly trained and equipped state police would improve internal security. However, security experts cautioned that the fund should not be viewed as a complete solution, with retired Major General Umar I. Muhammad noting that insecurity is too widespread to be solved by a single intervention. Another expert, Mohammed Ali, called on governors to back their promises with sustained action, recalling past initiatives that collapsed due to lack of commitment. Kaduna Governor Senator Uba Sani urged continued support for President Tinubu, citing federal interventions in infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare and security.
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