Northern governors and traditional rulers on Monday called for a six-month suspension of mining activities in the region, citing illegal mining as a major driver of insecurity. They also announced plans to mobilise N228 billion to combat banditry and protect communities across the North.

Under the initiative, each state and its local governments will contribute N1 billion monthly, creating a dedicated fund to finance joint security operations, intelligence-driven interventions, and coordinated responses. This arrangement will see the 19 northern states raise the full N228 billion annually.

The communiqué was issued after a joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.

The call for action follows a spate of school raids and kidnappings that have traumatised families and forced temporary school closures in multiple states, including Kebbi, Bauchi, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Plateau, Niger, Katsina, and Kwara. Notable incidents include the abduction of 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi on November 17 and over 300 pupils and teachers in Niger State on November 21.

President Bola Tinubu has declared a nationwide security emergency, while the governors endorsed the state policing initiative to enhance decentralised law enforcement. They also urged President Tinubu to direct the Ministry of Solid Minerals to suspend mining activities for a full audit and revalidation of licences, noting that illegal mining networks were financing armed groups.

The governors expressed support for military operations and pledged collaboration with federal authorities to eliminate insurgent enclaves. They also commended Tinubu for securing the release of abducted schoolchildren and called for long-term investment in infrastructure and development to address the root causes of insecurity.

Traditional leaders, including the Sultan of Sokoto, reaffirmed their support, urging unity among political leaders and continued prayers for national leadership.