Four Governors from the North-West region and the governor of the Maradi region in Niger Republic on Tuesday held a high-level meeting on tackling insecurity in the region.

The one-day multilateral security meeting had in attendance the governors of Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara and was declared by Governor Schiabou Aboubacar of Maradi.

Mr Aboubacar, also the convener, said the meeting would come up with solutions to the security challenges in the Sahel region.

“We are in serious trouble in this region. Everyone knows our problems are terrorists who have denied us sleep.

“Communities living around Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina that have borders with the Niger Republic hardly sleep in their communities.”

Although he admitted that the governors were trying to tackle the menace, Mr Aboubacar said much more needed to be done.

“Each state is doing its best in addressing the security challenges, but it’s not enough. We have to come together to see how we can address the problem,” he said.

Also speaking, Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina said the state government had built the capacity of traditional rulers and local government administrators to deal with the emerging real and potential threats in their areas.

“And we have also enhanced and promoted Inter-security agencies liaison through the establishment of joint operations and information-sharing platform,” Mr Masari said.

He explained that the issue of cross-border transhumance and insecurity occasioned by cattle rustling, armed banditry, kidnapping for ransom and proliferation of small arms, light weapons and ammunitions had been a major problem.

“Since the protection of lives and properties are the primary responsibility of the government, leaders must continue to engage with relevant stakeholders to bring about needed peace and tranquillity to their people, hence today’s meeting.

“Katsina State government, in particular, has been supportive of the security agencies in the state to enable them to fight armed banditry and other associated crimes,” Mr Masari said.

In their separate remarks, Governors Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, Bello Matawalle of Zamfara, and Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi expressed their concerns over the perennial security situation.

They hoped that a lasting solution could be provided at the end of the meeting.

(NAN)