The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has condemned the persistent wave of terrorism, armed banditry, insurgency and kidnapping across parts of Northern Nigeria, describing the situation as devastating and unacceptable.
Chairman of the Forum, Mamman Mike Osuman, spoke on Wednesday at the 79th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at the ACF Secretariat in Kaduna.
He cited recent incidents in Kwara, Southern Kaduna, Katsina, Benue and other states as evidence of a deepening security crisis in the region.
Osuman said that since the Forum’s last NEC meeting on August 21, 2025, the North has continued to grapple with grave challenges, including natural disasters, tragic loss of lives and worsening socio-economic hardship.
According to him, the consequences have been severe, with families and entire communities violently uprooted from their ancestral homes.
He noted that many displaced persons now live in overcrowded camps and informal settlements with limited access to food, healthcare and other basic services, increasing the risk of malnutrition and mortality.
He added that repeated attacks and the prevailing climate of fear have disrupted education in several affected communities, forcing school closures and worsening the out-of-school children crisis.
Rural economies, he said, have been badly hit as farming, trading and movement have become increasingly unsafe.
The ACF chairman expressed concern that insecurity has escalated to a point where external military assistance has been required in some areas, underscoring the scale of the crisis.
Osuman urged ACF state chapters to be proactive, stressing that the organisation must go beyond ceremonial engagements.
“Our existence as a socio-cultural organisation must be principled, sincere, sacrificial and action-driven,” he said, calling for constructive engagement with governments at national and subnational levels to pursue peace, stability and civil rehabilitation.
He also cautioned against political distractions ahead of the 2027 elections, warning that the region’s pressing issues—hunger, poverty, out-of-school children and frequent attacks must take precedence over political realignments.
As the country approaches another election cycle, he said ACF would work with relevant authorities to promote peaceful and credible polls while educating citizens on their civic responsibilities.
