Arewa Consultative Forum Raise Alarm Over Worsening Insecurity, Poverty

By Akinwale Kasali

The worsening insecurity and poverty in the North has led to the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, into expressing its deep concern over the situation.

The ACF stated that the North is also facing humanitarian challenges, and warned that terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping are increasingly displacing communities and disrupting livelihoods.

Mamman Mike Osuman, ACF Chairman, made this remark while delivering his welcome address at the Forum’s 79th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the ACF Secretariat in Kaduna.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, said the region has continued to face grave difficulties since the last NEC meeting in August 2025, citing natural disasters, loss of lives, and harsh living conditions as factors compounding the plight of residents.

“Terrorism, armed banditry, insurgency, and kidnapping are on the rise, as witnessed in Kwara, Southern Kaduna, Katsina, Benue, and other locations. The consequences have been devastating, with families and communities violently uprooted and displaced,” he said.

He added that these displacements have led to overcrowded camps and informal settlements with limited access to essential services, heightening the risks of malnutrition and mortality among survivors.

He added that repeated attacks and the prevailing climate of fear have disrupted education through school closures, strained rural economies, and discouraged access to farming, healthcare, and travel.

Osuman noted that the scale of insecurity has become so severe that external military assistance has been required, underscoring the urgency for coordinated action.

“Our existence as a socio-cultural organisation must not be merely ceremonial or rhetorical; it must be principled, sincere, sacrificial, and action-driven,” he stated, urging state chapters to engage constructively with governments at all levels in pursuit of peace, stability, and civil rehabilitation of affected communities.

He also cautioned against political distractions ahead of the 2027 elections, observing that some emerging groups appear more focused on electoral strategies than on pressing issues such as out-of-school children, hunger, poverty, and persistent attacks.

He further urged the ACF to cooperate with relevant authorities as the country approaches another election cycle, emphasizing the need to ensure peaceful and credible polls while educating citizens on their civic responsibilities.