Northern leaders under the ambit of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on the Federal Government to stop playing politics with insecurity in the country and put an end to the killings of citizens by terrorists.

The ACF said that the Northern group “is gravely disturbed at the Federal Government’s apparent benign neglect and inaction over the continuing tide of insecurity in Nigeria”.

In a statement by the National publicity of ACF, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba on Thursday, the Northern leaders said that “particularly concerning has been the rate at which armed non-state actors are allowed free reign to daily wreck violence on citizens, disrupt livelihoods, display populations and impose a state of anarchy, disillusionment and despair on communities.”

In contrast, Professor Muhammad-Baba explained, “elected officials and other politically exposed stakeholders seem more concerned and obsessed with the forthcoming 2027 elections”, pointing out that “delivering governance has become a far distant priority.”

The ACF argued, “both scenarios are utterly as disheartening as they are frightening because they strike at the very foundation and pose definite existential threat to Nigeria.”

“A few examples to illustrate the situation abound: President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s Independence Anniversary address to Nigeria, prosaically delivered, made only a single, fleeting mention of insecurity, as if just a grudging and irritating footnote. This is very telling.

(ii) Scores of children remain in the hands of terrorists in Borno, Kwara and other states, although those abducted in Oyo State at the same time (as those of Borno) have since been rescued and reunited with their families”, the statement added.

The statement continued, “many other hapless citizens are and continue to be hoarded into the bush and held in captivity under horrendous conditions.

Penultimate week, there were disturbing attacks by terror gangs on defenceless communities in Zamfara State, where five different incidents were recorded on a single day with, as sadly usual, lives lost and scores of people abducted, and property looted.”

It further stressed that “indeed, on an almost daily basis, the attacks occur at different locations in Zamfara State on daily basis, as if the State has become a killing field.”

Besides, Muhammad-Baba further argued, “in Plateau State sporadic armed attacks and killings by gangs punctuate daily lives. On the Mambila Plateau and other locations in Taraba State, grim news of deaths, injuries and destruction have become common place.”

“The tragic scenario is repeated in other states such as Benue, Niger, Katsina, Kogi and other locations. On the rise are news of abductions, kidnappings, killings and ransom demands in Chikun Local Government Area and other locations in or bordering Kaduna City metropolis.

In Imo State, prospective corps members travelling to report to camp were abducted and are still being held (as of the time of this release)”, he added.

According to him, “the list above is incomplete but suffices to say that the incidents in reference graphically illustrate the bigger picture.”

“Given the above, two logical questions come to mind. First, how much more senseless violence, abductions and bloodshed need to be experienced to elicit appropriate action from those responsible for the protection, security, wellbeing and welfare of citizens? Second, and most critically, when will political office holders prioritise security over political election or re-election concerns?”, he said.