The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately declare a national security emergency, citing the escalating wave of insecurity across the country and its growing impact on national stability.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its spokesperson, Professor Abubakar Jiddere, the forum expressed deep concern over what it described as the deteriorating security situation, marked by increasing cases of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal attacks and other violent crimes.
The group warned that urgent and decisive action is required to prevent further deterioration of the nation’s security landscape and restore public confidence in government institutions.
According to the forum, millions of Nigerians now live under constant fear as criminal elements continue to attack communities, abduct citizens and disrupt economic and social activities across various parts of the country.
“The security and welfare of the people remain the primary responsibility of government as enshrined in the Constitution. Nigerians are increasingly concerned about the state’s ability to adequately protect lives and property,” the statement noted.
The NEF observed that while Nigeria has faced different security challenges since independence, the current situation is unprecedented due to the simultaneous presence of multiple threats across several regions of the country.
The forum cited recurring attacks in states including Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Borno, Oyo, Edo, Enugu and Imo, where communities have reportedly suffered attacks, abductions, displacement and destruction of livelihoods.
It also expressed concern over the rising incidence of mass kidnappings and the expansion of kidnapping-for-ransom networks, describing the trend as a sophisticated criminal enterprise driven by weak law enforcement, porous borders, illegal arms proliferation and inadequate intelligence coordination.
According to the elders, insecurity has continued to negatively affect agriculture, education, investment and economic activities, while forcing many families into financial hardship through ransom payments and displacement.
The forum further criticized what it described as inadequate security presence in vulnerable communities and delays in responding to security threats.
As part of its recommendations, the NEF urged the Federal Government to declare a national security emergency and implement comprehensive reforms aimed at strengthening the country’s security architecture.
The group called for improved intelligence sharing among security agencies, deployment of modern surveillance technologies, dismantling of criminal networks, and the arrest and prosecution of sponsors and financiers of violent groups regardless of their social or political status.
It also advocated enhanced protection for schools, farming communities, highways and rural settlements, alongside greater transparency and accountability in security spending.
The forum stressed that insecurity should not be viewed through political, ethnic or regional lenses, describing it as a national challenge requiring collective action.
“This is a national emergency that demands immediate and measurable action. Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful development while citizens continue to live in fear,” the statement emphasized.
The NEF concluded by urging leaders at all levels to prioritize the protection of lives and property, noting that history would ultimately judge public office holders by their ability to safeguard the nation and its people.
