The Northern Elders Forum has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a national security emergency in response to the growing wave of insecurity across the country.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Abubakar Jiddere, the forum expressed concern over the escalating incidents of banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, and other violent crimes affecting several states nationwide.
According to the group, communities in states including Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Borno, Oyo, Edo, Enugu, and Imo continue to face persistent attacks, leaving residents vulnerable and disrupting socio-economic activities.
“The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government,” Jiddere said, citing constitutional provisions. “Yet many Nigerians are increasingly being forced to fend for themselves in the face of growing criminal threats.”
The forum described kidnapping-for-ransom as a rapidly expanding criminal enterprise driven by weak law enforcement, porous borders, illegal arms circulation, and poor intelligence coordination among security agencies.
NEF noted that the security challenges have severely affected agricultural production, displaced farming communities, weakened rural economies, disrupted education, and deepened poverty among affected populations.
“The country is facing an unprecedented security crisis that threatens national stability and economic survival,” the statement said. “The time for assurances has passed. The time for measurable action is now.”
The forum also expressed worries over reports of inadequate security deployment in vulnerable communities, delayed responses to attacks, and the limited prosecution of individuals linked to violent crimes.
As part of its recommendations, NEF urged the Federal Government to strengthen intelligence sharing among security agencies, intensify operations against criminal groups, prosecute sponsors of violence, and conduct comprehensive audits of illegal mining activities believed to be fuelling insecurity in some regions.
The group further called for increased protection of farming communities and schools, as well as greater transparency and accountability in the management of security resources.
Describing insecurity as a national challenge rather than a regional issue, the forum warned that continued attacks and violence could further undermine public confidence in government institutions and hinder economic growth.
Nigeria has battled various security threats for over a decade, particularly in the North-West, North-Central, and North-East regions, where banditry, communal clashes, kidnappings, and insurgent activities have displaced thousands of people and disrupted livelihoods.
