By Abubakar Yunusa
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has called for the immediate declaration of a state of emergency in Northern Nigeria following the killing of over 20 soldiers in a terrorist ambush in Niger State.
The attack, which occurred on Tuesday near Bangi in Mariga Local Government Area, has sparked widespread outrage across the region.
The NEF described the incident as a brutal massacre and further evidence of a total collapse of security.
In statement on Saturday, NEF spokesperson, Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere, said the North was now “under siege” by terrorists operating with growing impunity.
“This is not just an attack. It is a declaration of war against the Nigerian state, and the state is losing”,he said
The Forum condemned what it called the “slaughter” of uniformed personnel, labelling it part of an ongoing bloodbath turning Northern Nigeria into a full-blown war zone.
“From Benue to Plateau, Kwara to Kaduna, and from Zamfara to Sokoto, Borno, and now Niger, this is no longer insecurity.
“It is a sustained campaign of terror, mass murder, and state failure,”the statement read.
The NEF lamented the continued destruction of lives and communities, accusing the government of abandoning its constitutional duty to protect its citizens.
“The North is drowning in blood,” Jiddere said.
“Our soldiers are being butchered. Entire communities are wiped out while the killers roam free, unchallenged.”
Rejecting what it termed “hollow condolences and tired speeches,” the Forum demanded immediate and visible military action.
It insisted that a formal State of Emergency be declared, followed by “decisive, joint military and intelligence operations to root out terrorists regardless of their location or backers.”
“The blood of Northern Nigerians is not cheap. Our citizens will not continue to die silently while a complacent government watches from a distance,” the statement added.
The NEF also issued a warning to the federal government, saying that continued inaction could spark resistance from the populace.
“The patience of our people has run out,” the Forum said.
“The legitimacy of any government that cannot protect its people is gone. Enough is enough. We will not be silent.”
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