From: Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to declare a State of Emergency in vulnerable and banditry-prone areas to curb the killings in Plateau State.
This was contained in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the Forum, Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba, and made available to the media in Kaduna, yesterday.
The Forum also urged the Federal Government to initiate effective early-warning and early-response strategies that incorporate the participation of community members.
‘The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is ineffably saddened at the disheartening and frightening attacks by terror gangs on defenseless communities in Plateau State, on 28th March 2025, which resulted in the tragic deaths of scores of people including children, adding to dismal statistics of deaths, injuries, and property damage arising consequent to rampaging terror activities of bandits on communities over the last few years.
“ACF deeply mourns the dead and unequivocally condemns the attacks. The Forum particularly extends sympathy and condolence to the affected communities, the Government, and the people of Plateau State.
“The Forum identifies with the deep pains of families of the victims, prays to God to grant the deceased eternal rest, for surviving victims to be fortified with the strength to bear the losses, and for a quick return to full health for all who suffered injuries.
“To the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), constitutionally responsible for the protection of lives and properties of citizens, ACF wishes to draw attention, for the umpteenth time, to the deterioration in the state of security in Arewa communities and elsewhere in Nigeria.
“ACF reiterates its long-standing stance that every new such experience is one too many. The people are in great pain, with their situation compounded by existential economic challenges. The killing spree on the Plateau must be stopped immediately and peace must return to the State.”
Going forward, the ACF urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts in actionable intelligence gathering, processing, and deployment by all relevant security agencies to establish the immediate and remote causes of the latest skirmishes.
The Forum further tasked the Federal Government to investigate, identify, arrest, and prosecute perpetrators and enablers of the attacks and to fully compensate families for the lives lost and extend relief to those injured.
While reiterating unalloyed support for the FGN, the Plateau State Government, and all National Security Agencies in the fight against insecurity in Nigeria, ACF called on all to up the ante in the fight against threats to the wellbeing of all Nigerian citizens.
“The ACF calls on the FGN and Plateau State Government to empower community leaders, elders, clergy, traditional leaders, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to embark on community dialogue for conflict resolution, reconciliation, and cooperation. All must intensify conflict resolution efforts.
“Citizens should avail the security agencies with credible information on the activities of insurgents and criminals; and Members of the National Assembly to do more to hold the FGN and the National Security Agencies to account and to demand concrete evidence of a firm resolve to exterminate the current terror on citizens.”
