Northern govs appoint ex-CDS, ex-defence minister Security Trust Fund co-chairs

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The Northern States Governors’ Forum has inaugurated the Board of Trustees of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund, appointing former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (retd.), and former Minister of Defence and former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, as co-chairmen.

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The inauguration took place on Wednesday at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, Kaduna, during a meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, marking a significant step in the region’s efforts to strengthen collaboration against insecurity.

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The board is made up of retired military officers, former heads of security agencies and senior public servants drawn from the 19 northern states.

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Among the members are former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya (retd.), representing Sokoto State; former Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa, from Jigawa State; and retired Air Vice Marshal Kabiru Aliyu, a former director at the Defence Headquarters, representing Taraba State.

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Also appointed are the Borno State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Prof. Usman Tar; Senator Napoleon Bali, a retired Air Vice Marshal representing Plateau State; and retired Maj. Gen. A. M. Dikko, former National Coordinator of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, representing Niger State.

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Other members include retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police Sunday Babaji from Gombe State; retired Air Vice Marshal Farouk Omeiza Umar, former Chief of Policy and Plans at the Defence Headquarters, representing Kogi State; and retired Maj. Gen. Muhammad Sani, former Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation, from Kano State.

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The board also comprises former Zamfara State Head of Service Muhammad Mujtaba Isa; retired Chief Superintendent of Customs, Alhaji Adamu Tanko Umar, from Nasarawa State; former Kaduna State Head of Service, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha; and retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Sani Usman Mohammed, representing Bauchi State.

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Others are retired Maj. Gen. Bello Sarkin Yaki, former Coordinator of the Counter Terrorism Centre in the Office of the National Security Adviser, representing Kebbi State; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, from Adamawa State; Katsina State nominee, Alhaji Falalu Bawale; retired Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Bolakala Agbab, former Chief of Staff, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, representing Kwara State; retired Maj. Gen. John Seyina Malu, former Chief of Defence Standards and Evaluation, representing Benue State; and former Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, representing Yobe State.

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The Board of Trustees is expected to provide strategic oversight for the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund, which was established by the Northern States Governors’ Forum to mobilise resources, strengthen intelligence collaboration and support coordinated efforts to tackle banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, cattle rustling and other security threats across the region.

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The PUNCH reports that the inauguration followed the resolution of the 19 northern governors to establish the Trust Fund as a regional response to the worsening security situation in the North, where communities have witnessed repeated attacks by bandits, terrorists and kidnappers, leading to thousands of deaths, mass displacement, destruction of livelihoods and disruption of farming activities.

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At the meeting, the governors also resolved that each of the 19 northern states, in collaboration with their local governments, would contribute ₦1 billion monthly for 12 months to finance the Trust Fund.

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Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, said the initiative was designed to complement—not replace—the efforts of the Federal Government and security agencies through improved intelligence sharing, strategic coordination and sustainable funding.

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He said the fund would serve as “a focused, responsive and credible platform” for supporting security operations across Northern Nigeria, stressing that its success would be measured by its impact on the protection of lives and property.

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Traditional rulers, led by the Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, endorsed the initiative and pledged their full support, describing the establishment of the Trust Fund as a long-overdue practical approach to addressing insecurity in the region.

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