Regional governors from the north join forces to combat interstate crime and violence

Security officials and peacebuilding actors from four key states - Benue, Kaduna, Katsina, and Plateau - have come together to bolster collaboration and tackle insecurity through a high-level consultative dialogue held in Jos, Plateau State.

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This crucial gathering, which took place on March 17, 2026, was convened by the Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience, in partnership with the UK-funded Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria Programme and the Plateau State Peacebuilding Agency.

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The event provided a vital platform for participants to share their experiences, exchange valuable lessons, and develop coordinated strategies to address common security challenges that affect the region.

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A statement issued by Amina Wali, Communications Lead at OSPRE, on Wednesday, outlined the dialogue as part of ongoing efforts to enhance subnational coordination, improve early warning systems, and promote locally driven responses to evolving threats.

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OSPRE's SPARCS programme has made significant strides since 2025, training over 300 participants across the North-West and North-Central regions in early warning and response mechanisms.

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Dr Ukoha Ukiwo, SPRING Team Lead, emphasized the importance of strengthening local capacities and fostering peer learning platforms, such as the dialogue, to build resilient systems capable of preventing conflict before escalation.

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Mr Chris Ngwodo, Director General of OSPRE, expressed gratitude to SPRING and the United Kingdom Government for their support of peacebuilding initiatives in Nigeria, highlighting the need for cross-government coordination to address security challenges.

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According to Mr Ngwodo, a single tier of government cannot address today's security challenges in isolation, and a coherent, collaborative framework that aligns local knowledge with national capabilities is essential.

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Ms. Julie Sanda, Director General of PSPBA, commended the organisers for their commitment to peacebuilding and called for expanded partnerships to scale successful interventions at the community level.

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A notable highlight of the programme was a peer learning visit to the operational facility of Operation Rainbow, Plateau State Government's security outfit, where participants gained valuable insights into community-based security coordination, intelligence gathering, and rapid response strategies.

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The dialogue concluded with a collective commitment by participating states to institutionalise peer learning platforms, improve early warning and response systems, and enhance inter-state cooperation to ensure sustainable peace and security.