The Northern Elders Forum has urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately declare a state of emergency in the northern region, citing the worsening wave of insecurity that continues to cripple socio-economic activities and hinder development.
In a communique issued on Wednesday and signed by its spokesperson, Prof. Abubakar Jiddere, the forum decried the alarming rise in violent attacks, abductions, and killings across the North. It warned that failure to act decisively could trigger a descent into self-help measures, anarchy, and ultimately endanger Nigeria’s unity and regional peace.
According to the forum, inaction on the part of the Federal Government would jeopardise democratic stability, national cohesion, and the country’s overall political order.
The elders therefore urged the Tinubu administration to promptly declare a state of emergency in line with the constitution and international obligations to safeguard lives and property.
Recalling a recent incident, Jiddere highlighted the August 19 assault on a mosque in Unguwan Mantau Village, where armed men killed 27 worshippers and left several others wounded during morning prayers, forcing hundreds of residents to flee.
He also drew attention to the execution of 35 abductees in Zamfara State despite ransom payments, as well as separate attacks in Kaduna’s Kauru and Kudan LGAs that claimed eight lives and injured another eight.
Jiddere outlined NEF’s position, stating, “Declaring a State of Emergency in Northern Nigeria, acknowledging the extraordinary scale of the crisis.
“Deploying adequately trained, armed, and equipped security forces with clear rules of engagement to protect civilian populations and secure international border regions.
“Provide adequate compensation, rehabilitation, and humanitarian assistance to victims including displaced persons, in line with international humanitarian standards.
“Strengthening border control and regional cooperation with neighbouring states under ECOWAS and the African Union protocols, to stem cross-border incursions by armed criminal groups.
“Engaging international partners, including the African Union, AU, and United Nations, UN, for technical and humanitarian support.”
The forum further lamented the failures of Nigeria’s security architecture, stressing that it has become inadequate, overstretched, and in some cases complicit through negligence, leaving citizens vulnerable and eroding trust in state institutions.
“The NEF observes with deep regret that the state security architecture remains inadequate, overstretched, and in some cases complicit through inaction and silence, leaving citizens vulnerable and helpless while eroding public trust in government institutions,” Jiddere said.
He also reminded the government of its international legal obligations, citing, “Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), states that the inherent right to life shall be protected by law, and no one shall arbitrarily be deprived of life.
“The recurring atrocities in Northern Nigeria constitute serious breaches of these obligations, and in their scale and persistence, will amount to crimes against humanity under international law and humanitarian cases.”
Meanwhile, NEF pledged to intensify engagement with both local and international stakeholders to ensure urgent relief and sustainable protection for Northern communities.