Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) an umbrella body of 19 northern states governors, has called on security agencies to investigate the allegation by a former Central Bank of Nigeria Deputy Governor, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia that a serving northern governor was a leader of the Boko Haram terrorist group.
Chairman of NGF, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, said the Forum viewed the allegation very weighty and should not be swept under the carpet.
A statement issued in Jos on Thursday and signed by the NGF Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr. Makut Simon Macham said: ‘The forum, which has been working with the federal government, security agencies, community, civil society, traditional and religious leaders as well as development partners to defeat terrorism, banditry and other forms of criminality in the region finds the allegation by Dr. Mailafia very weighty, which deserves further investigation.”
It added: “We, as Northern governors, have met severally to discuss insecurity in the region and the nation at large where we did not only condemn the activities of terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, bandits and other criminals but also engaged the President and all heads of security agencies in finding solutions to the problem.
“To now say that one of our members is leading Boko Haram is a serious allegation that cannot be swept under the carpet. We demand an immediate and thorough investigation.”
Mailafia, had shortly after his interrogation by the DSS on Wednesday, declared he would continue to condemn the ongoing carnage in Southern Kaduna and other parts of the country.
The ex-CBN Chief, who was the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress during the 2019 general election, was questioned for more than six hours by the DSS following the allegations.