The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has raised alarm over Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, warning that the country has effectively reached a “state of war.”
The group urged the Federal Government to adopt urgent and extraordinary measures to tackle the crisis.
ACF Raises Alarm After Key Meeting
The warning formed part of a communiqué issued after the ACF’s 38th Board of Trustees meeting in Abuja.
The session was chaired by Bashir Dalhatu and attended by prominent northern leaders, including:
- Mohammed Abubakar
- Tukur Buratai
- Tijjani Muhammad-Bande
- Mahmud Ahmed
Insecurity Now a National Emergency
The forum said Nigeria’s security challenges have escalated beyond routine governance issues.
It cited:
- Insurgency in the North-East
- Banditry and mass kidnappings in the North-West and North-Central
- Persistent communal and farmer-herder clashes
According to the ACF, the scale and persistence of violence now threaten national stability and must be treated as an overriding national emergency.
Heavy Human and Social Toll
The group highlighted the devastating human impact of the crisis.
It noted that hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have been killed or displaced across states such as Borno State, Plateau State, Niger State, and Kwara State.
The ACF added that members of the armed forces, including senior officers, have also lost their lives, leaving families shattered and communities traumatised.
The forum warned that insecurity is now severely damaging Nigeria’s economy.
It stressed that:
- Agricultural production in northern Nigeria is under threat
- Supply chains face major disruptions
- Inflation continues to rise
- Rural economies are collapsing
According to the ACF, addressing insecurity is essential for economic recovery and long-term development.
The group called for a shift in national priorities, urging the government to adopt a war-time approach.
It recommended:
- Scaling down non-essential government spending
- Redirecting resources toward security operations
- Intensifying leadership focus on ending violence
The ACF emphasised that securing the country must come before pursuing broader development goals.
The forum clarified that prioritising security does not mean abandoning development.
Instead, it argued that restoring safety is a prerequisite for sustainable growth and national stability.
The ACF’s warning underscores growing concern over Nigeria’s security situation.
As pressure mounts, the government faces increasing calls to implement decisive and comprehensive measures to restore peace across the country.
