The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has warned that Nigeria’s worsening insecurity has escalated into what it described as a “state of war,” calling on the Federal Government to adopt urgent and extraordinary measures to address the crisis.
The alarm came as six soldiers and a civilian woman were killed in a fresh attack by Boko Haram insurgents on a military formation in Mussa community, Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
In a communiqué issued after its 38th Board of Trustees meeting in Abuja, chaired by Bashir Dalhatu, ACF said the scale and persistence of violence across the country now threaten national survival. The forum noted that insecurity has gone beyond insurgency, banditry, and communal clashes, requiring a complete shift in national priorities.
Prominent northern leaders at the meeting included Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, Mohammed D. Abubakar, Tukur Yusufu Buratai, and Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, among others.
ACF lamented that hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have been killed or displaced in states such as Borno, Plateau, Niger, and Kwara, with members of the armed forces also among the casualties. It warned that the humanitarian crisis has devastated communities, destroyed livelihoods, and worsened economic conditions.
The group stressed that insecurity is severely affecting agriculture, particularly in northern Nigeria, disrupting supply chains and fueling inflation. It added that redirecting national resources toward security should be seen as a necessary step for economic recovery.
Calling for a “war-time approach,” ACF urged the government to temporarily scale down non-essential projects and prioritise security interventions nationwide. It warned that Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads, where failure to act decisively could further threaten the country’s stability.
Meanwhile, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume confirmed the Borno attack and called for better funding and equipment for security forces. He emphasised the need for modern military assets, including mine-resistant vehicles, drones, and fighter jets, to effectively combat insurgency.
Despite ongoing challenges, troops under Operation Hadin Kai successfully repelled another attempted attack in Benisheikh, reinforcing efforts to contain insurgent activities, though the overall security situation remains volatile and unpredictable.
