The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has declared that Nigeria’s worsening insecurity has escalated into a “state of war,” calling on the federal government to urgently reorder national priorities and treat security as the country’s most pressing emergency.

This position was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 38th meeting of the ACF Board of Trustees on Wednesday and signed by its Chairman, Bashir M. Dalhatu.

The meeting, attended by prominent northern leaders, including former top government officials, diplomats and security chiefs, deliberated extensively on the persistent violence across the country, particularly in the northern region.

The forum noted that Nigeria’s security challenges have grown beyond isolated incidents of insurgency, banditry and communal clashes and evolved into widespread violence threatening national stability.

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The ACF’s resolution is coming on the back of renewed terror attacks in the country. A wave of attacks in Borno, Kaduna, Katsina and Benue states during the Easter period claimed 16 lives, including five policemen, and left dozens displaced.

Recent attacks

On March 17, at least 25 people were killed in simultaneous explosions at the gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), the Monday Market Roundabout and the Post Office in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Daily Trust reports that in the last few weeks, Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists have carried out a series of deadly and coordinated attacks on military formations across Borno State, killing soldiers and civilians.

Senior military officers, including Major U. I. Mairiga who headed the Mayenti base; Commander of Kukawa base and the 101 Brigade, Lt-Col Umar Faruq; Commanding Officer of the 222 Battalion in Konduga, Lt-Col S.I. Iliyasu; Brigade Commander of the 29 Task Force Brigade Headquarters in Benisheikh, Brigadier General Oseni Omoh Braimah and the Commanding Officer of the 242 Battalion, Monguno, Col. I.A. Mohammed, also paid the supreme price.

The military has also intensified operations in high-risk locations, including the Sambisa Forest, the Timbuktu Triangle, the Mandara Mountains and the Lake Chad Basin. Scores of insurgent commanders and fighters had been killed during operations conducted across multiple fronts, with several major terrorist camps also destroyed.

According to the ACF’s communiqué, insurgency in the North-East, banditry and kidnappings in the North-West and North-Central, as well as farmer-herder conflicts, have combined to create a dangerous situation requiring urgent and decisive action.

“The scale, persistence and human cost of the violence demand a fundamental shift in national priorities,” the forum stated, adding that the crisis should no longer be treated as one of many governance issues but as the overriding national emergency.

The ACF expressed concern over the human toll of the crisis, revealing that hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have been killed or displaced in states such as Borno, Plateau, Niger and Kwara, among others. It added that the casualties also include members of the armed forces, including senior officers.

The forum lamented that families have been torn apart, livelihoods destroyed and entire communities traumatised, warning that the long-term social consequences could be devastating.

It further highlighted the economic implications of the insecurity, particularly on agriculture, which remains the backbone of the northern economy.

According to the group, farming activities have been severely disrupted, contributing to food shortages, inflation and the collapse of rural economies.

“Insecurity is now directly undermining Nigeria’s economy. The longer the crisis persists, the more expensive it becomes to fix,” the communiqué stated.

The ACF emphasised that redirecting national resources towards addressing insecurity should not be seen as a setback to development, rather a necessary step to achieving sustainable growth.

Calling for what it described as a “war-time approach,” the forum urged the government to temporarily suspend or scale down spending on non-essential projects and channel resources towards ending the security crisis.

“Extraordinary threats require extraordinary measures,” the group said, stressing that securing the nation must take precedence over other developmental initiatives.

The forum warned that Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads, with the escalating violence posing a serious threat to its unity and future.

It urged the government to act with urgency and clarity by mobilising all available resources and demonstrating strong leadership in tackling the crisis.

The communiqué concluded that until Nigerians can live, travel and work without fear, especially in rural communities, meaningful national development would remain unattainable.

ACF ex-scribe urges tough action, social reforms

The ACF former Secretary General, Elder Anthony Sani, also urged the government to adopt a comprehensive strategy that combines both strong punitive measures and long-term socio-economic interventions.

In a chat with Daily Trust on Wednesday, Sani emphasised that security efforts must go beyond military responses.

According to him, the government must significantly strengthen punitive measures by increasing the number of security personnel, ensuring they are adequately trained, properly equipped, and sufficiently motivated to safeguard lives and property.

However, he warned that enforcement alone would not resolve the crisis. Sani stressed the urgent need to confront the root causes fueling insecurity, particularly poverty, ignorance and unemployment.

He highlighted the growing number of out-of-school children as a critical concern, noting that failure to address this issue could create a pool of vulnerable youths susceptible to recruitment by extremist groups.

“The fight against insecurity must be waged on two fronts: through decisive security actions and deliberate policies that improve education, reduce poverty, and create employment opportunities,” Sani stated.

He said only a balanced and sustained approach can effectively curb the menace and restore lasting peace in the region.

Afenifere raises alarm over rising terror

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has also expressed concern over the rising wave of terror attacks across the country.

The group condemned the spate of violence in Yorubaland and called on governors of the six South West states to take more decisive action to curb the growing insecurity.

Rising from its caucus meeting held at the residence of its leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Afenifere described the situation as alarming and warned that urgent steps must be taken to halt what it termed a “genocidal agenda.”

The organisation, in a statement, reiterated its call on South West governors to translate resolutions from previous security meetings into concrete action.

It also urged them to collaborate with their counterparts in Kwara and Kogi states, noting that the forest corridors linking these areas are frequently exploited by bandits to launch attacks.

The statement, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, further called for the strengthening of the military and other security agencies through improved equipment, enhanced morale and a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic strategies.

Afenifere stressed the need for security agencies to look inward, alleging the presence of internal collaborators aiding criminal elements.

According to the group, some individuals within local communities are complicit by providing support to kidnappers, bandits and terrorists.

The organisation also extended its condolences to victims of terrorism in Yorubaland and other parts of Nigeria, urging a united front to tackle the menace.

When contacted last night, the spokesman for the Nigeria Police Force, Anthony Placid, said the Force had not been adequately informed on the ACF’s resolution and promised that the Force would react accordingly.

The Director, Defence Information, Samaila Uba, a Major-General, could not be reached for comments as calls to his mobile phone rang out. He had not yet responded to either text or WhatsApp messages as of the time of filing this report. Also, Daily Trust reached out to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, for the government’s reaction to the ACF’s call. He said the authourities will respond at the appropriate time.

Ex-AIG calls for adequate funding

Speaking on the issue, retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Adisa Bolanta, called for the declaration of a state of emergency on insecurity. He warned that the situation across parts of the country has reached an intolerable level.

“Truly, the government should declare a state of emergency on insecurity, especially in some states where we have had this endemic problem of banditry, Boko Haram activities and other violent crimes. It is getting too uncomfortable for citizens,” he said.

The retired police chief stressed that beyond rhetoric, the government must commit substantial resources and embark on a deliberate restructuring of the police.

The former AIG also criticised the proliferation of specialised units, noting that they have not translated into improved security outcomes.

“All these outfits being created here and there have not really helped in addressing the core issues. Instead of multiplying structures, what is needed is proper reform of the existing system so that it works efficiently. If the divisions are well-resourced and properly guided, you will see a significant improvement in policing outcomes,” he added.

On tactical operations, Bolanta highlighted the need to revitalise the Police Mobile Force (MPF). He pointed to systemic issues affecting resource utilization and warned against the continued concentration of logistics at higher levels, insisting that effectiveness depends on empowering local commands.

“I served in the police for 35 years, and I spent my last ten years at the administrative level, so I understand how the system works. One of the major problems is that resources often do not get to the people who actually need them for operations,” he explained.

“Funding, welfare, equipment and logistics should not be concentrated at the headquarters. They must be directed to the DPOs who head stations in towns and rural areas. Once they have adequate resources, you will begin to see police visibility everywhere, and that visibility alone serves as a strong deterrent to criminal activities. Criminals thrive where there is no visible security presence.”

Bolanta stressed that the government must adequately fund the military because the nature of the threats “we are facing requires a coordinated approach,” calling for greater citizen participation in security efforts.

“The police cannot do it alone, neither can the military operate in isolation. There has to be synergy, proper funding and clear operational roles,” he added.