The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of security emergency in states plagued by terrorism and banditry, following the latest wave of deadly attacks in Plateau State.
In a statement issued by the ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the group expressed deep sorrow over the March 28, 2025 massacre in Plateau, where dozens of innocent lives—including children—were lost to brutal attacks by armed gangs.
“We are ineffably saddened at the disheartening and frightening attacks by terror gangs on defenseless communities in Plateau State,” the Forum stated. “These killings must stop immediately.”
The ACF, a leading voice for Northern interests, said the security situation in the North and across Nigeria has reached alarming levels, and strongly condemned what it described as the government’s slow response to worsening insecurity.
A Call to Action
The Forum urged the Federal Government to:
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Declare a state of security emergency in vulnerable communities terrorized by bandits.
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Strengthen early-warning and response systems involving local communities.
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Enhance actionable intelligence gathering and deployment to prevent further attacks.
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Apprehend and prosecute perpetrators and enablers of the violence.
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Compensate bereaved families and provide relief to the injured.
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Empower community leaders, traditional rulers, religious clerics, and civil society organizations to champion conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
“Clearly, the people are in great pain, with their situation compounded by economic hardship,” the statement read. “Every new killing is one too many. The Federal Government must act now.”
The Forum also called on members of the National Assembly to hold the government and security agencies accountable, urging them to demand clear results and decisive action in the fight against terror.
While reiterating its support for the Federal and Plateau State Governments, the ACF stressed that no effort must be spared to end the cycle of violence threatening the lives and livelihoods of citizens in the North and across the country.
“Citizens must also do their part by sharing credible information with security forces. It is time to collectively rise against this terror.”
