The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritise the security and safety of the people in the northern region.
In a statement by Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, Director of Publicity and Advocacy for NEF, the forum highlighted the urgent need for decisive action to address the escalating violence and criminal activities plaguing the North-West and other parts of the northern region.
NEF emphasized the importance of engaging with affected communities, listening to their concerns, and working collaboratively to find lasting solutions to the security challenges threatening lives and livelihoods in the region.
It also expressed valid concerns about the dire security situation, including issues of banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities causing fear and insecurity among the population.
The forum pointed out the critical challenge of policing communities in northern Nigeria, where criminal elements continue to wreak havoc, leading to the abandonment of farmlands, closure of schools, and destruction of livelihoods.
The forum while expressing disappointment that President Tinubu’s recent national address failed to address these urgent issues or provide reassurance to the affected communities, called for concrete steps to alleviate the security challenges faced by these communities.
“The NEF’s concerns are valid and immediate governmental action is imperative to address the dire security situation in the North-West and other parts of the northern region. President Tinubu must prioritize the safety and well-being of the individuals in these areas and work towards restoring peace and stability in the region. Only through proactive and decisive measures can the government assure these endangered communities and restore their confidence in the state’s capacity to protect them from the pervasive criminal elements.”
