The Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF) on Thursday said that southern states are intensifying collaborative efforts to combat potential security threats, particularly the drift of ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) members from northern to southern Nigeria.
In a statement signed by Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Chairman of the Southern Governors, through his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, Abiodun highlighted the launch of a robust intelligence-sharing and operational synergy platform among Southern governors.
He explained that the efforts are aimed at strengthening security frameworks across the region to protect lives, property, and ensure peace.
Abiodun noted the importance of proactive measures, saying, “The principles and strategies recommended for the collective good of the South include protection of lives and property, prevention of crime, community policing, economic development, enforcement of human rights, intelligence gathering, and fostering understanding among security agencies, government departments, and stakeholders to achieve a unified security approach.”
The Southern Governors’ Forum has also resolved to reinforce existing regional security arrangements to serve as local intelligence-gathering mechanisms for formal security agencies.
These measures will also provide operational support when necessary.
This comes amid growing concerns about reports of terrorist activities spreading to southern Nigeria.
In response, the governors are prioritising the integration of community policing strategies and leveraging grassroots participation to bolster security efforts.
The statement read, “Governor Dapo Abiodun is convinced that security is a shared responsibility of both the federal and the state governments.
“This attitude explains why, from the inception of his administration, he has been funding both the state and federal security agencies in the state in a manner that is unprecedented since the creation of the state, and this is the exact ideology he has brought to bear as the Chairman of Southern Governors’ Forum, mobilising his colleagues for regular funding of the security apparatus in their respective states.
“For instance, operational vehicles, technological communication, and combat equipment are continually provided to security agencies to boost their motivation and performance, while the governors are also encouraged to foster joint security assessment, intelligence sharing, and actions among the states to address common security challenges and adopt common winning strategies.”
The statement noted that the chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Governor Dapo Abiodun, is fully committed to the security of the state and the entire Southern region of Nigeria.
“Since he emerged as the Chairman of Southern Governors’ Forum, he has worked assiduously with his colleagues for consistent close monitoring of the activities of the security agencies in the states, even as he also maintains regular touch through visits, telephone calls, and physical and virtual meetings with his counterparts in the region, especially in light of the unfolding drift of ISWAP members from the North to the South,” it said.
Meanwhile, the governors share information and review the crime control strategies within the region through meetings, calls, interstate visits, and correspondence.
It said, “The principles and strategies that are recommended for the collective good of the South include the protection of lives and property. We must ensure our citizens’ safety and the securing of assets in all the Southern states.
“Prevention of crime, we should at all times adopt suitable proactive measures to prevent criminal activities and maintain law and order within and between the states.”
Speaking about community policing, he said every state government in the South and the security agencies must collaborate with local communities to identify and address security concerns.
The governor explained that each state will adopt intelligence gathering, collecting and analysing data to anticipate and respond to security threats is of utmost importance as it places us a step ahead of criminals.
“Interagency collaboration, fostering understanding among security agencies, government departments, and stakeholders to achieve a unified security approach,” he added.
