Governors call for justice, stronger security, and urgent safety reforms after twin disasters.
Gombe: The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) has condemned the terrorist massacre at Kasuwan Daji Market in Niger State and mourned the deadly boat mishap in Yobe, describing the twin tragedies as devastating blows to lives, livelihoods, and regional stability.
At least 30 traders, including women, were killed, many abducted, and the market was set ablaze by suspected terrorists, according to reports.
In a statement issued Sunday in Gombe, the Forum’s Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya, said he was “profoundly shocked and outraged” by the killings, which he noted had inflicted “untold grief” and disrupted economic activities.
He stressed that assaults on traders and market women were “morally reprehensible” and struck at the heart of regional economic life.
Yahaya urged security agencies to intensify efforts to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
The Forum extended condolences to the victims’ families, the Niger State Government, and affected communities, praying for the repose of the souls of the deceased.
He assured continued collaboration with federal and security agencies to strengthen the North’s security architecture.
Meanwhile, the Forum also mourned a boat mishap in Yobe State, where at least 25 passengers died, and 14 others remain missing after a vessel capsized on the Yobe River in Garbi town, Nguru Local Government Area.
Yahaya described the tragedy as “a painful reminder of the urgent need to prioritise safety” in all forms of transportation. The Forum called on authorities to intensify search-and-rescue operations, provide medical care to survivors, and enforce safety regulations.
It further appealed to northerners to remain united, calm, and compassionate, reaffirming its commitment to tackling insecurity and strengthening emergency response systems.