The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has declared that Nigeria’s worsening insecurity has escalated to what it described as a “state of war,” urging the Federal Government to take urgent and decisive action.
The position was contained in a communiqué issued after the forum’s 38th Board of Trustees meeting held in Abuja, chaired by Bashir Dalhatu.
According to the ACF, the scale and persistence of violence across the country now pose a serious threat to national stability.
“Nigeria’s security crisis has gone beyond a routine governance challenge and has evolved into a situation that resembles a state of war,” the communiqué stated.
“The level of violence, its spread, and its human cost demand an immediate shift in national priorities.”
The forum listed insurgency in the North-East, banditry and kidnappings in the North-West and North-Central, as well as recurring communal clashes and herder-farmer conflicts, as key drivers of the crisis.
It warned that the cumulative impact of these conflicts is endangering lives and undermining the country’s unity.
“The continued loss of lives and displacement of communities across several states is alarming,” the group said. “Families are being torn apart, livelihoods destroyed, and entire communities left in trauma.”
The ACF also highlighted the economic implications of the insecurity, particularly on agriculture in northern Nigeria.
“Insecurity is severely affecting agricultural activities and disrupting supply chains,” the communiqué noted.
“This is worsening inflation and weakening rural economies, making recovery more difficult the longer the crisis persists.”
Calling for a more robust response, the forum urged the Federal Government to adopt what it described as a war-time strategy to tackle the situation.
“Extraordinary threats require extraordinary measures,” it said.
“Government must prioritise security above all else, including reconsidering spending on non-essential projects to focus resources on ending the crisis.”
The group stressed that addressing insecurity should be seen as a foundation for development rather than a competing priority.
“Securing the nation is a prerequisite for sustainable development,” the ACF added. “Nigeria must stabilise first before it can effectively pursue long-term growth.”
The forum concluded by warning that the country is at a critical juncture and called for coordinated, comprehensive efforts to restore peace and safeguard its future.
