Northern Nigeria Launches Security Trust Fund to Fight Banditry and Terrorism

Northern Nigeria’s governors and the council of traditional rulers have established a Security Trust Fund aimed at curbing banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other violent crimes in the region. The initiative, endorsed at a joint meeting in Kaduna and supported by the Sultan of Sokoto, pledges monthly contributions of N1 billion from the northern states, with payments to be deducted at source to ensure timely funding.

The fund seeks to enable coordinated intelligence sharing, strengthen community resilience and support the creation of state police forces, complementing existing security structures. Leaders emphasised that collective action is essential to address the escalating insecurity that has undermined lives, livelihoods and development across northern Nigeria.