“If Nothing is Done, This Can Expand, Grow and Threaten Our Own Existence” ~ ACF On Northern Insecurity.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Alhaji Bashir Muhammad Dalhatu, has expressed his worry over the growing insecurities in the northern part of the country. He warned that this poses a serious threat to the north, this was done during his visit to Maiduguri,  where he sympathize with the people of Borno State following the recent flood disaster.

Dalhatu emphasized the need for urgent interference citing insurgency in the North East, banditry in the North West, and various social challenges in the North Central region. “Our position is further worsened by the insurgency and banditry that even stop our people from going to farm. We have many farmers that can’t access their farms and we no longer produce the food we eat; we have millions of out-of-school children, Aljamaria and begging has become very social ills, and if you put all these together, you can understand we are in a very serious dire situation,” he said.

He warned that if urgent action is taken the crisis will only deepen thus causing further threats to the northern. “If nothing is done, this can expand, grow and threaten our own existence. Ten years ago, there was no single bandit in the North West for example, today most of the states in the North West have got banditry situations,” Dalhatu added.

He highlighted the possibility of insecurity worsen in the coming years, he said “We are frightened by the possibility that this can grow in the next five years to come. We don’t know what can happen to our existence in Northern Nigeria until very serious, urgent, positive, and definite action is directed squarely to bring these ills to an end as soon as possible.”

The chairman expressed his disappointment over the persistent insurgency over the pass decade that has escalated instead of curtailed. “Those actions being taken so far in the last 15 years apparently have not been able to stop insurgency. Therefore, we need to think differently, and that’s what our own group of experts is now doing and will soon produce their reports for onward transmission to the 19 northern state governors,” he said.

He further noted that th ACP has employed the help of experts to develop new strategies to address the challenges. He said “You can be rest assured that this time around, Insha Allah, action that will be taken will be far more effective and attitude will be instilled. Hopefully, we will see the end of these problems.”