The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called for a total overhaul of national security strategies to prevent Nigeria’s slide into anarchy from extremism and insurgency, following what it described as “tragic deaths from terrorist attacks in Borno, Plateau, and other states.”
A statement issued by Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba, ACF National Publicity Secretary, said, “The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is gravely saddened to receive the recent highly disturbing news of a tragic insecurity incident at Borno and Plateau states. Earlier, similar attacks in Katsina, Kwara, Niger, Zamfara, and other states had also been recorded.
“The bomb blast in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Monday, 16th March 2026, left in its wake deaths, injuries, and other traumatic impacts on scores of persons. The bombing incident came on the heels of devastating attacks on military formations in the state, resulting in deaths and injuries to gallant soldiers as well as the destruction and the looting of critical military facilities.”
Similarly, the statement explained that, days earlier in Plateau State, yet more violent gun attacks on communities took place, followed by the killing of military personnel by criminal elements, stressing that earlier incidents in Katsina, Kwara, Niger and Zamfara states had grimly added to the sordid statistics.
“The tragic bloodletting incidents have inevitably resulted in tragic losses of lives and property, disruption of livelihoods and fractured social relations. ACF remains gravely worried and disheartened, almost to the point of despair, about such occurrences. It is most counterintuitive that our communities continue to experience these incidents as they fester unabated. The totality of the sordid incidents suggests a coordinated strategy by extremist terror merchants intent on disrupting the semblance of normality that communities have been managing,” the statement explained.
Muhammad-Baba stated that the cowardly attacks have remained hallmarks of tactics employed by Boko Haram, religious extremists, insurgents and criminals, as even they themselves are wont to admit and brag about.
Irked by it all, he said that ACF condemned the “dastardly and evil attacks” and extended condolences as well as commiserated with all victims, the government and people of Nigeria, pointing out the losses and injuries inflicted on hapless citizens in Borno, Plateau and all other states being menaced by such horrific violence from misbegotten terrorists operating in whatever guise.
The statement explained, “For the umpteenth time, ACF regrets that such attacks could be carried out so brazenly. Doubtless, the attacks are rude reminders that the fight against terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria has been ineffective and not reassuring, given the display of crude capacity to wreak misery on hapless communities.”
While not unmindful of efforts from relevant federal and state agencies in response to the tragedy, the statement warned that much more needs to be done. It stated that doubling down on efforts to exterminate insecurity, extremism and the “banditry” scourge is clearly indicated, with less focus on politicking.
Muhammad-Baba said, “Ultimately, demonstrable force and political will, in absolute and uncompromising terms, must be used to confront terror merchants wherever they are.”
ACF warned, as is obvious to all, that Nigeria faces a potent existential threat as a consequence of the spate of insecurity incidents against the apparently timid response by political authorities, stating that no officious hubris or sterile public propaganda can whitewash the situation.
He added: “Unless the pervasive insecurity problem is confronted soonest, Nigeria risks a catastrophic and dangerous slide into avoidable widespread anarchy and anomie. The authorities must abandon the seeming proverbial Russian Roulette tactics in confronting the problem head-on.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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