Stop Killing Spree In Plateau, ACF Tells FG

The apex northern sociocultural group, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), said the forum is ineffably saddened at the disheartening and frightening attacks by terror gangs on defenceless communities in Plateau State on 28th March 2025, which resulted in the tragic deaths of scores of people including children.

Consequently, ACF, the plateau killing, which adds to dismal statistics of deaths, injuries and property damage arising to rampaging terror activities of bandits on communities over the last few years, call on the federal government to stop the spree of killings in Nigeria.

ACF, in a statement issued by the national publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad -Baba said the forum deeply mourns the dead and unequivocally condemns the attacks

“The Forum particularly extends sympathy and condolences to the affected communities, the government, and the people of Plateau State. The Forum identifies with the deep pains of the families of the victims and prays to God to grant the deceased eternal rest, for surviving victims to be fortified with the strength to bear the losses and for a quick return to full health for all who suffered injuries.

“To the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), constitutionally responsible for the protection of lives and properties of citizens, ACF wishes to draw attention, for the umpteenth time, to the deterioration in the state of security in Arewa communities and elsewhere in Nigeria”.

ACF reiterated its long-standing stance that every new such experience is one too many, adding that clearly, the people are in great pain, with their situation compounded by existential economic challenges.

“The killing spree on the Plateau must be stopped immediately, and peace must return to the State,” it stated.

“As we advance”, ACF further called on the FGN to declare a state of security emergency in vulnerable and banditry-prone communities and to initiate effective early-warning and early-response strategies that incorporate the participation of community members.

“Intensify efforts in actionable intelligence gathering, processing and deployment by relevant all security agencies to establish the immediate and remote causes of the latest skirmishes, investigate, identify, arrest and prosecute perpetrators and enablers of the attacks.

Fully compensate families for the lives lost and extend relief to those injured“.

ACF also called on the Federal and Plateau State Governments to empower community leaders, elders, clergy, traditional leaders, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to embark on community dialogue for conflict resolution, reconciliation, and cooperation.

All must intensify conflict resolution efforts, and citizens should avail the security agencies with credible information on the activities of insurgents and criminals, and members of the National Assembly to do more to hold the FGN and the National Security Agencies to account and to demand concrete evidence of a firm resolve to exterminate the current terror on citizens“.

While reiterating unalloyed support for the FGN, the Plateau State Government, and all National Security Agencies in the fight against insecurity in Nigeria, ACF calls on all to up the ante in the battle against threats to the well-being of all Nigerian citizens.