Sultan Urges Northern Leaders to Unite Against Banditry, Says ‘We Know the People’

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called on northern leaders, traditional rulers and residents to work together to end the growing menace of banditry, terrorism and kidnapping across the region.

Speaking on Wednesday during a joint meeting of northern governors and traditional rulers in Kaduna, the President-General of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council stressed that security should not be viewed as the sole responsibility of the government or security agencies.

He said tackling insecurity requires the collective efforts of governors, security operatives, traditional institutions and local communities.

According to the Sultan, the inauguration of the Board of Trustees of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund marks a significant step towards addressing the region’s security challenges through a coordinated and practical approach.

He explained that the board, made up of respected individuals from the 19 northern states, would help drive sustainable solutions to insecurity after years of discussions without sufficient action.

The traditional ruler assured the board of the full cooperation of traditional institutions, noting that they possess valuable local knowledge that can strengthen intelligence gathering and security operations.

“We know the people, we know where we live, and we are ready to work hand in hand with you,” he said, urging the board to seek guidance from traditional rulers whenever necessary.

The Sultan also emphasized that the fight against insecurity must rise above ethnic and religious divisions, describing unity as the North’s greatest strength.

He recalled that northern traditional rulers had consistently condemned violent extremism and had submitted recommendations on tackling insecurity to the Northern Governors’ Forum as far back as 2014.

He further appealed to governors to provide adequate funding for the security initiative, stressing that meaningful progress would be difficult without sufficient financial support.

Yayale Ahmed, Agwai to Lead Security Trust Fund

The Northern Governors’ Forum appointed former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed, and former Chief of Defence Staff, Martin Luther Agwai, as co-chairmen of the Board of Trustees of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund.

Other members include former Inspector-General of Police Usman Alkali Baba, former Chief of Army Staff Faruk Yahaya, alongside other notable northern stakeholders.

The trust fund is expected to mobilise resources, improve coordination among security agencies and strengthen intelligence sharing to support efforts aimed at restoring peace in the region.

Northern Governors Commit ₦1 Billion Monthly

Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, said the inauguration of the board represents a major milestone in the region’s collective response to insecurity.

He disclosed that the 19 northern states and their local governments had agreed to contribute ₦1 billion every month for one year to finance the trust fund.

Yahaya urged states that had not fulfilled their financial commitments to do so promptly while charging the board to manage the resources with transparency and accountability.

According to him, although national security remains the constitutional responsibility of the Federal Government, northern states must complement federal efforts through intelligence gathering, community engagement and regional collaboration.

He also stressed that the success of the trust fund would be measured by tangible improvements in security, intelligence sharing, rapid response and the protection of lives and property.

The governor reiterated support for the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and welcomed ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s security architecture, including discussions on the creation of state police.

He, however, maintained that military operations alone would not solve the region’s security challenges, calling for greater investment in education, agriculture, youth empowerment, job creation and skills development.

The Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund was approved by northern governors in December 2025 to provide sustainable funding for joint security operations and intelligence-led interventions. While all states are expected to contribute ₦1 billion monthly under the arrangement, only a handful have reportedly begun making payments.

Expressing confidence in the initiative, the Sultan said the North could overcome its security challenges through unity, commitment and divine guidance.