Yusuf Bello| Governors of the north-east met with President Muhmammadu Buhari on Monday, alongside the heads of security agencies and vice president Yemi Osinbajo.
At the meeting which took place about a week after the insurgents attacked the convoy of Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno state, the governors told the president that the insurgent group was recruiting new members in the region.
Addressing journalists shortly after the meeting, Bornu state governor Babagana Zulum said the governors highlighted the key security challenges in the region and recommended that the police should be empowered with adequate equipment to bridge the existing gap in manpower.
Zulum said, “The government of the region have commended the efforts of federal government in securing the region. However, we told me president that there is need for the federal government to address the causes of insurgency, which are not limited to the endemic poverty, hunger among others.
“One of the root causes is that of access to farm lands, people need to go back to their farmlands, people need to be resettled in their original homes so that they can restart their means of livelihood.
“This is one of the reasons the insurgents are recruiting more into the sect. Therefore, creating enabling environment (that) will enable the people to go about their normal duties will no doubt reduce the cases of insurgency.”
On the attack on him by the insurgents, the governor said a series of consultations has been held over the incident, adding that “I think security is not only about federal government”.
“There is need for the federal, states and the local government to come together with a view to proffering solutions that will end this crisis in the region,” Zulum said.
“But most importantly, there is war on the economy in the region and I think that is why we are here.”
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