Arewa Broadcast Forum Calls for State of Emergency on Insecurity in Northern Nigeria
By Yusuf Gwandu
The Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners Forum (ABMPF) has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on insecurity in Northern Nigeria, citing the worsening security situation across the region.
Speaking during a press conference held in Abuja on Wednesday, the Chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Abdullahi Yelwa, expressed concern over the increasing cases of terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, and attacks on communities, saying the situation threatens the very fabric of Nigeria’s nationhood.
Yelwa said recent incidents, including the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State and the death of Major General Abubakar Rabe in captivity, have once again drawn national attention to the security challenges facing the country.
According to him, insecurity has escalated significantly since the beginning of 2026, with coordinated attacks on military formations in Borno and Yobe States, persistent killings in Plateau, Niger, Benue, Kogi and Kwara States, as well as continued banditry in Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina and Kaduna States.
He noted that journalists in Northern Nigeria have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of insecurity, often serving as first responders during attacks and reporting on the suffering of displaced persons, destroyed communities, and victims of violence.
The forum argued that existing institutional and strategic measures have failed to adequately address the security crisis and urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to immediately declare a state of emergency on security in the North with clearly defined tactical and strategic objectives, as well as a timeline for implementation.
ABMPF also called on Northern leaders to take greater responsibility in addressing insecurity by identifying and exposing informants and collaborators aiding criminal activities within their communities.
The forum further advocated for increased community participation in local security efforts and welcomed the creation of state police and forest guards as complementary measures in the fight against insecurity. However, it stressed that a large-scale deployment of conventional security forces remains necessary to dislodge criminals from their forest hideouts.
Beyond security, the forum raised concerns over the economic and social challenges confronting the region. It highlighted the decline in agricultural productivity due to insecurity, climate change and government policies, noting that crop yields have dropped significantly in many parts of Northern Nigeria.
ABMPF also expressed concern over the high number of out-of-school children in the region, low literacy levels, gender inequality and widespread poverty. According to the forum, a substantial proportion of Nigeria’s multidimensionally poor population resides in Northern Nigeria.
On politics, the forum urged Northern voters to reject leaders who promote division along religious or ethnic lines. It lamented what it described as the erosion of the region’s historic culture of unity and development-oriented leadership.
Addressing economic development, the forum called for urgent government intervention to tackle poverty and revive industries across the North. It commended the Benue State Government for promoting orange processing industries and encouraged other states to invest in sectors where they possess comparative advantages.
The forum also urged Northern governors to prioritize human capital development, education, job creation and youth empowerment over large-scale infrastructure projects such as flyovers. It further called on the Federal Government to develop a functional railway system to support economic growth and connectivity across the region.
Yelwa concluded by reaffirming the forum’s readiness to partner with governments at all levels in addressing the challenges facing Northern Nigeria and promoting sustainable development across the region.
