Arewa Consultative Forum Laments Rising Terrorism, Banditry

• Alia pledges to construct Nyihemba, Anwase-Abande road to tackle insecurity

• Senate: Delayed defence spending gives advantage to insurgents

John Shiklam in Kaduna, George Okoh in Makurdi and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), lameted the increasing activities of terrorists and bandits in the North.

Chairman of the forum, Mamman Mike Osuman, SAN, stated this yesterday at the  National Executive Council Meeting (NEC) of the ACF in Kaduna.

Osuman said the region has  continued to face grave difficulties, natural disasters, tragic loss of lives, and the harsh vicissitudes of daily existence.

“Terrorism, armed banditry, insurgency, and kidnapping are on the rise, as witnessed in Kwara, Southern Kaduna, Katsina, Benue, and other locations. The consequences have been devastating, with families and communities violently uprooted and displaced,” he said.

He added that  the displacements had resulted in overcrowded camps and informal settlements with limited access to basic services, thereby increasing the risks of malnutrition and mortality among survivors.

According to Osuman, “Repeated attacks and the climate of fear have disrupted education, leading to school closures across affected areas.

“Rural economies have been severely strained, travel has become unsafe, and access to farming, schooling, and healthcare has been discouraged.

“Insecurity has deepened to such an extent that external military assistance has been required. This grim situation heightens ACF’s concern and underscores the urgent need for our State Chapters to be proactive.

“Our existence as a socio-cultural organisation must not be merely ceremonial or rhetorical; it must be principled, sincere sacrificial, and action-driven.”

The ACF chairman, therefore, called for constructive engagement with governments at national and subnational levels in the pursuit of peace, stability, to ensure the rehabilitation of the people.

He also noted that as the 2027 elections approached, the ACF would collaborate with relevant authorities to ensure peaceful and credible elections. 

Alia Pledges to Construct Nyihemba, Anwase-Abande Road to Tackle  Insecurity

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has pledged to construct the Nyihemba-Anwase-Abande road to ease movement and also enhance security patrol and rapid response.

He promised to revive the energy (power) at Anwase, provide water both at Nyihemba and Anwase as well as send additional motorbikes to enhance surveillance.

The governor made the pledge when he visited the people of Turan, Kwande Local Government today to have first hand information on the recent attacks at Anwase and Abande communities.

Briefing reporters at the correspondent of the Nigerian Union of Journalist, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Tersoor Kula, said the governor has assured the people that they are not alone and that their lives and dignity remained his top priority.

He promised to make contacts and see to it that network providers provide a network booster in the area to facilitate quick communication when the need arises.

Alia, who condemned the unprovoked attacks assured of his readiness to enhance collaboration and provision of the needed logistics to security personnel, who were in the trenches battling to bring peace to the affected areas.

He assured the people of succour in the nearest future stating that President Bola Tinubu, is already properly briefed of the untoward development and has directed reinforcement to the area.

Senate: Delayed Defence Spending Gives Advantage to Insurgents

The Senate, yesterday, issued a stern warning that delays in implementing Nigeria’s defence budget could undermine the country’s battle against insurgency and other security threats, insisting that funding for the armed forces must be released and fully utilised without further setbacks.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Ahmed Lawan, sounded the alarm during a budget defence session where the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, presented the ministry’s 2025 performance review and 2026 budget proposal.

Lawan expressed concern over what he described as the slow pace of implementation of the 2025 defence budget, parts of which have been rolled over into the 2026 fiscal framework.

“The exercise of implementation has been slow. How are we prepared to move forward if we are unable to implement the 2025 budget fully? How do we deal with 2026?” he queried.

The lawmaker stressed that defence spending was too critical to be delayed, warning that any postponement could embolden criminal elements and insurgent groups operating across the country.

“It is defence. You cannot postpone the implementation of the defence budget because that gives an edge to the enemy.

“We have to insist that our armed forces and other security agencies have their budgets implemented to secure the lives of Nigerians,” Lawan said.

In his presentation, Musa, acknowledged that security challenges persisted across various parts of the country but assured lawmakers that the ministry remained committed to strengthening operations and delivering better results. “Challenges are still there, but we are hoping to do better,” he said, attributing progress recorded so far to the sustained support and cooperation of the National Assembly.