The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation in Nigeria, describing it as a “state of war” and urging the Federal Government to adopt urgent, extraordinary measures to address the crisis.
The position was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the forum’s 38th Board of Trustees meeting held in Abuja.
The meeting was chaired by Bashir Dalhatu and attended by prominent northern leaders, including former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar, former Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai, former President of the United Nations General Assembly Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, and Mahmud Ahmed.
In the communiqué, the ACF said the country’s security challenges ranging from insurgency in the North-East to banditry and mass kidnappings in the North-West and North-Central, as well as persistent communal clashes have escalated into a broader national crisis threatening stability.
The forum noted that the scale and persistence of violence, along with its human toll, require a fundamental shift in national priorities, warning that the situation must now be treated as a national emergency.
According to the group, what began as isolated security incidents has developed into widespread violence that poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s unity and survival.
The ACF stated that hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have either been killed or displaced in states such as Borno, Plateau, Niger, and Kwara, adding that members of the armed forces, including senior officers, have also lost their lives.
It lamented the devastating social impact of the violence, noting that families have been separated, livelihoods destroyed, and entire communities left traumatised.
The forum also warned of the economic consequences of the insecurity, particularly its effect on agriculture in northern Nigeria. It said disruptions to farming activities and supply chains are contributing to rising inflation and weakening rural economies.
According to the ACF, prioritising security is essential for economic development, stressing that no meaningful progress can be achieved without stability.
Calling for decisive action, the forum urged the Federal Government to adopt a wartime approach, including scaling down spending on non-essential projects and redirecting national resources towards addressing insecurity.
It emphasised that while development initiatives remain important, restoring security must take precedence, warning that the country has reached a critical point where continued violence threatens both lives and the nation’s future.
The ACF called on authorities to take bold, comprehensive, and immediate steps to bring the situation under control and restore peace across the country.
