The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has raised serious concerns over the escalating insecurity, poverty, and humanitarian challenges in northern Nigeria, warning that terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping are increasingly displacing communities and disrupting livelihoods.
ACF Chairman Mamman Mike Osuman, SAN, sounded the alarm on Wednesday during his welcome address at the Forum’s 79th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the ACF Secretariat in Kaduna. He said the region has faced grave difficulties since the last NEC meeting in August 2025, citing natural disasters, loss of lives, and harsh living conditions as compounding factors.
“Terrorism, armed banditry, insurgency, and kidnapping are on the rise, as witnessed in Kwara, southern Kaduna, Katsina, Benue, and other locations. The consequences have been devastating, with families and communities violently uprooted and displaced,” Osuman said.
He added that these displacements have led to overcrowded camps and informal settlements with limited access to essential services, increasing the risks of malnutrition and mortality among survivors. Repeated attacks have also disrupted education through school closures, strained rural economies, and discouraged access to farming, healthcare, and travel.
Osuman noted that the severity of insecurity has necessitated external military assistance, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated action. “Our existence as a socio-cultural organisation must not be merely ceremonial or rhetorical; it must be principled, sincere, sacrificial, and action-driven,” he said, urging state chapters to engage constructively with governments to promote peace, stability, and civil rehabilitation of affected communities.
He cautioned against political distractions ahead of the 2027 elections, observing that some emerging groups appear more focused on electoral strategies than on pressing issues such as out-of-school children, hunger, poverty, and persistent attacks. While acknowledging support from some elected and appointed officials, Osuman said many leaders remain disconnected from ACF’s aspirations and programmes.
On internal developments, Osuman disclosed that the National Working Committee had endorsed the creation of additional committees, including a nine-member Code of Conduct and Ethics Committee to strengthen governance. Professor Nuhu Mohammed Jamo, a former dean at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and legal consultant to the National Assembly on the 1999 Constitution review, will head the committee.
He urged members to adhere strictly to the ACF Constitution, avoid sensationalism, and focus on programmes that advance the restoration, survival, and welfare of northern communities. As Nigeria approaches another election cycle, he emphasized the importance of cooperating with authorities to ensure peaceful and credible polls while educating citizens on civic responsibilities.
“The State of the Nation is on the agenda. Positions taken must be fact-based, and speakers should propose practical solutions that will guide remedy, recovery, and progress,” Osuman added.
