A coalition of leaders from diverse ethnic nationalities in Nigeria’s Northern region, on Sunday asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to overhaul security, reshuffle his cabinet and embark on a phase of deep consolidation of his reforms.
In a communique at the end of their meeting in Abuja, the ethnic leaders said the worsening insecurity in the North is unacceptable, and called on President Tinubu to take decisive steps at nipping the situation in the bud.
The North has been faced with avalanche of challenges including Boko Haram attacks in the North East, banditry in the North West and North Central, out of school children, food crisis and many others.
Convener of the group, Dr. Dominic Alancha, who read the communique after their meeting, lamented that daily, communities in the North were ravaged by bandits, terrorists, and criminal elements who operate with impunity, stressing that kidnappings for ransom have become a thriving industry in the region.
He expressed worry that farmers are unable to access their farms due to insecurity in the region while major highways have become death traps.
“This is unacceptable. The current Service Chiefs have, despite the enormous resources allocated with the innocent taxpayers’ money, failed to conceive and execute effective strategies to abate this menace.
“Their tenure has been marked by an alarming increase in audacious attacks and a palpable sense of despair among our people. The security architecture has proven to be ineffective and we are therefore requesting for a fundamental overhaul of the entire nations Security chiefs.
“Consequently, the Northern Ethnic National Forum angrily and unequivocally demands: The immediate dismissal and replacement of all Service Chiefs. The President must appoint new, fresh, and innovative military leaders with a clear mandate and a timeline for delivering measurable results.
“The immediate declaration of a state of emergency on security in the entire Northern region. This is not a call for militarisation but for a targeted, multi-agency, and resource-intensive emergency operation to flush out terrorists, dismantle their networks, and restore permanent order.
“This action will demonstrate the utmost seriousness required to address this existential threat. We strongly urge the President to move beyond the initial reforms and embark on a phase of deep consolidation,” he said.
The forum reminded President Tinubu that Nigerian people are suffering, saying “the economic squeeze, the insecurity, and the social anxiety have gone far beyond rhetoric. The people feel a profound disconnect between their daily realities and the assurances from your Abuja office.”
