By Joy Yesufu
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a national security emergency, warning that escalating violence, kidnappings and bandit attacks across the country pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s stability and economic wellbeing.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the forum’s spokesperson, Abubakar Jiddere, described the current security situation as unprecedented, saying criminal activities have continued to spread across several parts of the country, leaving millions of Nigerians vulnerable.
The forum expressed concern over what it termed the government’s inability to adequately safeguard lives and property, noting that communities in states including Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Borno, Oyo, Edo, Enugu and Imo remain under threat from bandits, kidnappers and other armed groups.
According to NEF, kidnapping-for-ransom has evolved into a sophisticated criminal enterprise driven by weak law enforcement, porous borders, illegal arms proliferation and inadequate intelligence coordination among security agencies.
The group warned that the security crisis is having far-reaching economic and social consequences, including declining agricultural output, displacement of farming communities, disruption of education, weakening rural economies and rising poverty levels.
Citing Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, which states that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government, the forum questioned why many citizens were increasingly being forced to defend themselves against criminal elements.
The group also expressed concern over reports of inadequate security presence in vulnerable communities, delayed responses to distress calls and limited prosecution of suspected perpetrators of violent crimes.
NEF further called on the Federal Government to investigate illegal mining activities and other forms of illicit resource exploitation allegedly linked to insecurity in some parts of the country, arguing that criminal networks often flourish where governance and oversight are weak.
As part of its recommendations, the forum urged the government to strengthen intelligence-sharing among security agencies, intensify operations against kidnapping and banditry networks, prosecute sponsors and financiers of violent groups, conduct comprehensive audits of illegal mining activities, improve protection for farming communities and schools, and ensure greater accountability in the management of security funds.
Describing the security challenge as a national emergency rather than a regional problem, the forum warned that continued violence could further undermine public confidence in government institutions and hinder economic development.
“The time for assurances has passed. The time for measurable action is now,” the statement said.
Nigeria has battled persistent security challenges for more than a decade, particularly in the North-West and North-Central regions, where banditry, mass kidnappings and communal violence have displaced thousands of residents and disrupted economic activities.
The North-East also continues to face insurgency-related threats despite sustained military operations against terrorist groups, while concerns have grown in recent years over attacks on farming communities, increasing highway kidnappings and the impact of insecurity on food production and investment.
The latest intervention by the Northern Elders Forum adds to growing calls from traditional rulers, civil society organisations and other stakeholders for stronger security measures and improved coordination among security agencies to address the country’s security challenges.
