Insecurity, poverty worsening in North, ACF raises alarm

By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

Kaduna — The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed deep concern over worsening insecurity, poverty, and humanitarian challenges in Northern Nigeria, warning that terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping are increasingly displacing communities and disrupting livelihoods across the region.

Chairman of the ACF, Mamman Mike Osuman, SAN, raised the alarm on Wednesday in his welcome address at the Forum’s 79th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the ACF Secretariat in Kaduna.

Osuman said the region has continued to grapple with serious challenges since the last NEC meeting in August 2025, citing natural disasters, loss of lives, and harsh living conditions as factors compounding the suffering 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.

According to him, the resulting displacement has led to overcrowded camps and informal settlements with limited access to essential services, increasing the risks of malnutrition and mortality among affected populations.

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

The ACF chairman noted that the scale of insecurity has become so severe that external military assistance has been required, underscoring the urgency for coordinated and sustained action.

“Our existence as a socio-cultural organisation must not be merely ceremonial or rhetorical; it must be principled, sincere, sacrificial, and action-driven,” Osuman stated, urging state chapters to engage constructively with governments at all levels to promote peace, stability, and the 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 critical issues such as out-of-school children, hunger, poverty, and persistent attacks.

While acknowledging that some elected and appointed officials have supported the Forum, Osuman said many leaders remain disconnected from ACF’s goals and programmes.

He called on members to remain sincere and purposeful in their deliberations, stressing that the welfare of vulnerable populations must remain central to the Forum’s engagements.

Highlighting internal developments, Osuman disclosed that the National Working Committee (NWC) had approved the establishment of additional committees, including a nine-member Code of Conduct and Ethics Committee to strengthen institutional governance.

The committee will be chaired by Professor Nuhu Mohammed Jamo, a former Dean of the Faculty of Law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and a legal consultant to the National Assembly on the review of the 1999 Constitution.

Osuman further urged members to adhere strictly to the ACF Constitution, avoid sensationalism, and focus on programmes that advance the restoration, survival, and welfare of the region’s people.

As the country approaches another election cycle, he emphasized the need for the Forum to collaborate with relevant authorities to ensure peaceful and credible polls while educating citizens on their civic responsibilities.

“The State of the Nation is on the agenda. Positions taken must be fact-based, and speakers should propose practical solutions that will guide remedy, recovery, and progress,” he added.

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