Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, the forum's chairman and the governor of Borno State, said this yesterday in Gombe as he opened the seventh meeting of the forum, which was held there.
The six governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe, who make up the NEGF, gathered in Gombe to discuss issues impacting the region and the nation.
The issue of kidnapping, which has become far too prevalent in the nation, should be examined more closely by both the federal and state administrations, according to Governor Zulum.
"There is an urgent need for us to examine the emerging problem of kidnapping more critically because it has turned into a popular and pervasive crime among criminals.
In order to deal with this aspect of criminality before it's too late, he stated, "it is therefore a question of strategic imperative to essentialize the issue of kidnapping and come up with implementable remedies."
The governor continued, lamenting the fact that thousands of Boko Haram terrorist remnants are still ferociously set on carrying out their criminal acts with deadly resolve, even as some insurgents are turning to God and giving up the battle.
Therefore, he stated that it is strategically crucial to reaffirm the commitment to putting an end to the insurgency in its entirety, "in order to reawaken the public's aspirations and trust and to realise our united aim to restore durable peace and security in the North East.
According to Zulum, some members of Boko Haram occasionally carry out attacks on defenceless populations and soft targets, particularly in Borno State.
"It is crucial for us to evaluate our tactical plans and methods of handling the issue, and devise more practical and workable procedures for tackling the current security challenges and preventing potential dangers in the future," he said.
"So, in order to thoroughly clean out the aggressive ones, our security forces need to consider the kinetic strategy and go on the offensive."
In addition, according to Prof. Zulum, governors in the sub-region should pay close attention to youth unrest, high unemployment rates, and extreme poverty by "exploring different options for engaging the youths in a gainful and rewarding way as well as collectively harnessing our vast resources for socio-economic viability and sustainable growth and development of the region."
Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya remarked in his welcoming speech that the gathering gives participants a chance to reflect on their accomplishments over the previous two years.
He stated that they would discuss the difficulties they have encountered since the forum's establishment during the seventh meeting.
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