ACF accuses Federal Government of neglecting Nigeria’s worsening insecurity

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed what it called “gravely disturbed at the Federal Government’s apparent beginning neglect and inaction over to the continuing tide of insecurity in Nigeria.”

ACF, therefore, has been particularly concerning the rate at which armed non-state actors are allowed free rein to daily wreak violence on citizens, disrupt livelihoods, displace populations and impose a state of anarchy, disillusionment and despair on communities.

Its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Muhammad-Baba, in a statement made available to Daily Post in Kaduna on Thursday, said, “In contrast, elected officials and other politically exposed stakeholders seem more concerned and obsessed with the forthcoming 2027 elections. Delivering governance has become a far distant priority.

“Both scenarios are utterly as disheartening as they are frightening because they strike at the very foundation and pose definite existential threat to Nigeria.”

The statement explained, “President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s Independence Anniversary address to Nigeria, practically delivered, made only a single, fleeting mention of insecurity, as if just a grudging and irritating footnote. This is very telling.

“Scores of children remain in the hands of terrorists in Borno, Kwara and other states, although those abducted in Oyo State at the same time (as those of Borno) have since been rescued and reunited with their families.”

The National Publicity Secretary stated that many other hapless citizens are and continue to be hoarded into the bush and held in captivity under horrendous conditions, stressing that penultimate week, there were disturbing attacks by terror gangs on defenceless communities in Zamfara State, where five different incidents were recorded on a single day, with, as sadly usual, lives lost and scores of people abducted, and property looted.

“Indeed, on an almost daily basis, the attacks occur at different locations in Zamfara State on daily basis, as if the state has become a killing field.

“In Plateau State sporadic armed attacks and killings by gangs punctuate daily lives. On the Mambila Plateau and other locations in Taraba State, grim news of deaths, injuries and destruction have become commonplace.”

Muhammad-Baba stated that the tragic scenario is repeated in other states such as Benue, Niger, Katsina, Kogi and other locations, lamenting that on the rise are news of abductions, kidnappings, killings and ransom demands in Chikun Local Government Area and other locations in or bordering Kaduna City metropolis.

It said that in Imo State, prospective corps members travelling to report to camp were abducted and are still being held (as of the time of this release).

ACF asked, “Given the above, two logical questions come to mind. First, how much more senseless violence, abductions and bloodshed need to be experienced to elicit appropriate action from those responsible for the protection, security, wellbeing and welfare of citizens? Second, and most critically, when will political office holders prioritise security over political election or re-election concerns?”

ACF, therefore, called on attention to the deteriorating state of security in Arewa communities and elsewhere in Nigeria, saying that every new incident of insecurity should be one too many, as time is fast running out, electioneering campaigns must give way to action over insecurity.

“Without equivocation ACF insists that now is the time to stop the politics and end the killings,” the statement explained.