The Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners Forum (ABMPF) has expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation in Northern Nigeria, calling on the Federal Government to immediately declare a state of emergency on security in the region.
Speaking at a press conference held in Abuja on Wednesday, the Chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Abdullahi Yelwa, said the North was facing existential threats arising from terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, economic hardship and social dislocation.
Yelwa noted that recent incidents, including the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State and the death of retired Major General Abubakar Rabe in bandits’ captivity, had once again drawn national attention to the growing insecurity ravaging communities across the country.
According to him, the situation has deteriorated significantly since the beginning of 2026, with coordinated attacks on military formations in the North-East and persistent killings across the North-Central and North-West regions.
He lamented that years of terrorism and banditry had left many communities deserted, displaced thousands of residents and created widespread suffering in internally displaced persons camps. He said media practitioners in the region witness the devastating effects of insecurity daily through their coverage of attacks, displacement, hunger and loss of lives.
The ABMPF Chairman commended members of the Armed Forces and intelligence agencies for their sacrifices in the fight against criminal elements, but observed that existing institutional and strategic interventions had failed to halt the growing wave of insecurity.
The Forum therefore urged President Bola Tinubu's administration to implement an emergency security framework with clearly defined objectives, timelines and strategies aimed at drastically reducing violence in the North.
It also called on traditional rulers, political leaders and community stakeholders to take greater responsibility for addressing local factors that fuel insecurity, including exposing informants and collaborators aiding terrorists and bandits.
The Forum advocated greater community participation in local security efforts and welcomed the creation of state police and forest guards as complementary measures, while stressing that sustained military operations remained necessary to dislodge criminal groups from their forest strongholds.
Beyond security, the Forum drew attention to the severe economic and social challenges confronting the region. It cited declining agricultural productivity caused by insecurity, climate-related shocks and policy constraints, warning that food production had suffered significant setbacks in many northern states.
The ABMPF also highlighted the region’s education crisis, noting that Northern Nigeria continues to account for the overwhelming majority of out-of-school children in the country. It further expressed concern over widespread multidimensional poverty and the collapse of industries that once supported economic growth and employment.
While commending the Benue State Government for promoting agro-processing industries, the Forum urged other states to develop sectors where they possess comparative advantages in order to stimulate economic growth and create jobs for young people.
The Forum called on governors across the region to prioritise human capital development, education and youth empowerment rather than focusing excessively on infrastructure projects that have limited impact on poverty reduction.
On politics, the ABMPF warned against divisive rhetoric and urged northern voters to reject politicians who exploit ethnic and religious differences for personal gain. It stressed that the North's historical diversity had always been a source of strength and should be harnessed for collective development.
The Forum further appealed to the Federal Government to accelerate the development of a functional railway network across Northern Nigeria as part of broader efforts to revive commerce and improve regional integration.
Yelwa assured governments at all levels of the Forum's willingness to partner with relevant stakeholders in finding lasting solutions to the challenges confronting the region and improving the welfare of its people.
Abuja Network News
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