ACF Laments Increasing Insecurity Affecting Northern Nigeria
From Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed deep concern over the escalating insecurity in Northern Nigeria.
The apex socio-cultural body emphasized that “whatever it takes, the security crisis in Northern Nigeria must end and end quickly. Our survival depends on it.”
The meeting, chaired by Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Dalhatu, Wazirin Dutse and Chairman of the ACF Board of Trustees, culminated in a communiqué read by Professor Muhammad Tukur Baba, the National Publicity Secretary.
It addressed the dire state of security, the soaring cost of living, widespread unemployment, and other challenges gripping Nigeria, particularly the North.
“The North is currently overwhelmed by rampant banditry, Boko Haram insurgency, and other forms of violence”
“Drug trafficking and abuse are also on the rise, and with farmlands being abandoned due to insecurity, food production has become increasingly difficult. Farmers are either being killed or forced to flee to IDP camps” the communiqué stated.
The ACF lamented the failure of existing security measures, noting that current strategies have not achieved the desired results. The Forum called for alternative, even unconventional, methods to address the crisis.
“Community-driven defense models, such as the Civilian JTF in the Northeast, should be adapted and implemented in other regions,” the statement suggested.
The rising cost of living, exacerbated by food shortages and the increasing prices of electricity and fuel, was also highlighted as a pressing issue. The ACF urged the government to take immediate action to alleviate these burdens, noting that these economic challenges fuel insecurity and violent crime.
Corruption was identified as a key factor driving bad governance, which in turn has worsened the country’s social and economic crises. The ACF called on the authorities to wage an all-out war against corruption, without delay.
On the issue of constitutional review and restructuring, the ACF dispelled the notion that the North is resistant to such discussions.
The Forum stated that Northern Nigeria is open to considering any proposals for constitutional reform, as long as they align with the region’s legitimate interests.
