The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has urged the Federal Government to declare a state of security emergency in terror-prone states and called for the stoppage of killings in Plateau State.

Besides, ACF said that it was time for the Federal Government to return normalcy to states terrorized by bandits, by ensuring the declaration of a state of security emergency in those states for the return of peace.

Besides, the Arewa leaders said that they are “ineffably saddened at the disheartening and frightening attacks by terror gangs on defenseless communities in Plateau State, on 28th March 2025, and which resulted in the tragic deaths of scores of people including children.”

The Northern group added that no one should dismiss the statistics of deaths, injuries, and property damage arising consequent to rampaging terror activities of bandits on communities over the last few years.

In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba on Sunday, said the “ACF deeply mourns the dead and unequivocally condemns the attacks.

“The Forum particularly extends sympathy and condolence to the affected communities, the Government and people of Plateau State,” he said, adding that “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 strength to bear the losses and for 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. Clearly, 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.

“ACF calls on the FGN to declare a state of security emergency on vulnerable and banditry-prone communities and to initiate effective early-warning and early-response strategies that incorporate the participation of community members.”

Muhammad-Baba remarked that the government should “intensify efforts in actionable intelligence gathering, processing and deployment by relevant all security agencies so as to establish the immediate and remote causes of the latest skirmishes.”

According to him, the government should also “investigate, identify, arrest and prosecute perpetrators and enablers of the attacks and fully compensate families for the lives lost and extend relief to those injured.

“The FGN and Plateau State Government should empower community leaders, elders, clergy, traditional leaders, civil society organisations, 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.

“While reiterating unalloyed support for the FGN, the Plateau State Government, and all National Security Agencies in the fight
against insecurity in Nigeria, ACF calls on all to up the ante in the fight against threats to the wellbeing of all Nigerian citizens.”