Northern Elders to Tinubu: Declare State of Emergency Over Insecurity
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately declare a state of emergency in the North, citing worsening insecurity that threatens Nigeria’s stability and regional peace.
Communiqué Raises Alarm on Violence
In a statement signed by NEF spokesperson Prof. Abubakar Jiddere, the group condemned rising abductions, killings, and violent attacks, warning that failure to act could push communities into self-help and anarchy.
Bloody Attacks Highlight Crisis
- Kaduna: Armed men stormed a mosque in Unguwan Mantau on August 19, killing 27 worshippers and displacing hundreds.
- Zamfara: 35 abductees were executed despite ransom payments.
- Kaduna LGAs: Eight people killed and eight injured in separate assaults in Kauru and Kudan.
NEF Demands Urgent Action
The forum called for:
- Full deployment of trained and equipped security forces.
- Compensation and rehabilitation for victims and displaced persons.
- Stronger border control and ECOWAS/AU cooperation.
- International support from the UN and AU for technical and humanitarian aid.
Security System ‘Inadequate, Complicit’
NEF expressed regret that Nigeria’s security architecture remains overstretched and, in some cases, silent or complicit, eroding public trust. It stressed that persistent atrocities in the North amount to breaches of international law and could qualify as crimes against humanity.
Forum Vows Continuous Engagement
The elders pledged to keep pressing for urgent interventions while engaging national and global stakeholders to secure relief for Northern communities.
