Taraba, Adamawa Governors Seek Cooperation Against Criminal Networks

Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State and his Adamawa State counterpart, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, have called for sustained collaboration between sub-national governments and federal defence institutions as a critical step in dismantling criminal networks in the North East region.

The governors made the call during a meeting with the minister of defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd) at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja at the weekend.

Elder statesman and former defence minister, General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), representatives of the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff and his operational team, members of the Africa Nature Investors (ANI) and the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Defence also participated in the meeting.

The strategic engagement followed renewed insurgent activities and security breaches in parts of Adamawa State and adjoining communities in Taraba State, prompting fresh calls for strengthened collaboration between federal and state authorities.

Sources at the meeting told our correspondent in Jalingo yesterday that discussions focused on enhancing counter-insurgency operations, reinforcing forward deployment of security personnel, improving inter-agency intelligence sharing and accelerating the mobilisation of additional military assets to vulnerable communities in the two states.

According to the sources, participants at the meeting also reviewed the existing operational gaps and community-based security challenges requiring urgent federal intervention.

At the meeting, Governor Kefas reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, and stressed that sustained cooperation between sub-national governments and federal defence institutions remained critical to dismantling criminal networks and restoring normalcy.

Governor Fintiri also underscored the importance of maintaining operational momentum and adopting proactive strategies to contain emerging threats before they escalate into broader instability.

The meeting underscored a unified political and security front among key stakeholders and signaled intensified efforts in restoring public confidence, stabilise affected communities and consolidate peace across Adamawa and Taraba states.