THE Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has issued a stark warning over Nigeria’s deepening security crisis, describing the situation as having escalated to a “state of war” and urging the Federal Government to take immediate and decisive action.
The position was outlined in a communiqué released after the forum’s 38th Board of Trustees meeting held in Abuja, chaired by Bashir Dalhatu.
The meeting brought together several prominent northern leaders, including Mohammed Abubakar, Tukur Buratai, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, and Mahmud Ahmed.
In its statement, the forum highlighted the growing scale of violence across the country from insurgency in the North-East to banditry and mass kidnappings in the North-West and North-Central, as well as ongoing communal and herder-farmer conflicts.
It warned that the persistence and severity of these challenges now threaten Nigeria’s overall stability and should be treated as a national emergency.
The ACF stressed that the crisis has gone beyond routine governance concerns, noting that widespread killings and displacement have affected states such as Borno, Plateau, Niger, and Kwara.
It added that members of the armed forces, including senior officers, have also suffered casualties, leaving families devastated and communities deeply traumatised.
Beyond the human toll, the forum pointed to the economic consequences of insecurity, particularly in northern Nigeria where agricultural activities have been heavily disrupted.
According to the group, weakened farming systems and broken supply chains are fueling inflation and accelerating the decline of rural economies.
Calling for a more aggressive response, the ACF urged the government to adopt a war-time approach, including redirecting national resources toward security efforts.
It argued that prioritising security is not a distraction from development but a necessary foundation for sustainable economic growth.
The forum concluded that Nigeria is at a critical turning point, warning that continued inaction could further endanger lives and undermine the country’s future, while calling for comprehensive and urgent measures to restore peace and stability nationwide
