Five Northern Govs Raise Alarm Over Kamuku Forest

Host Governor, Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State

•Fear it may serve as breeding ground for terrorists

Governors of Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Zamfara and Kebbi States yesterday identified the massive Kamuku Forest, which spans their  states, as a threat to national security.

The governors at a meeting in Kaduna said that given the series of criminal activities that have been going on in the forest for some time now, every necessary step must be taken immediately by government so that it might not become another Sambisa Forest.

Sambisa in Borno State is the Boko Haram fortress where most of its attacks were planned and executed.

Dozens of its training camps are also located in the forest although the Defence Headquarters claimed troops have destroyed some of them and liberated hostages found therein.

The Nation report continues:

Host Governor Nasir el-Rufai told reporters at the end of the meeting that it was necessary for government to pay attention to the forest now because “that forest is capable of breeding future Boko Haram.”

He added: “The forest, which is in the centre of the Kaduna, Niger, Katsina, Kabbi and Zamfara, has been of serious security concern.

“So, we have just met to brainstorm with a view to fashioning out a coordinated approach in tackling the security challenges in our states. This has become necessary to avoid a spill over.

“We met with security chiefs in charge of our respective states so that, we can as quickly as possible bring an end to the loss of lives, cattle rustling and loss of property.”

He said their action had the backing of the federal authorities.

At the meeting were Govs Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina),Abdulahi Yari (Zamfara State),Abubakar Bagudu  (Kebbi) and Abubakar Bello (Niger).

Governor El-Rufai who had earlier addressed his first Town Hall Meeting reiterated his government’s commitment to devote the state resources to people oriented projects.

He said:”the new government of Kaduna State has declared that the resources of the state will be devoted to serving the public, with schools, hospitals and roads; aiding our farmers and doing our utmost to create jobs.

“To do that, we must cut the cost of running government. Ours will no longer be the state that has too little left for the needs of the majority of the people.?

“That is our guiding principle as we reduce costs. And we have taken concrete action in this regard.

“We have restructured our ministries from 19 to 13. We have also decided that we will have only 13 commissioners, 10 special advisers and 12 special assistants.

“You all remember that the previous government had 24 commissioners, 41 special advisers and about 400 special assistants.

“But good governance is not about recruiting vast numbers of political appointees. It is about the smallest number that can provide the quality of service that is required,?” he said.

El-Rufai said he found the state in a bad shape but pledged that he would never use that as an excuse for non-performance.

“It is our duty to do our best always. That is why we are finding creative even if difficult ways to deliver on our promises,” he said.