ACF: Rising Terrorism, Kidnapping In The North, Displaced Families, Communities

The apex northern socio-cultural organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has lamented that terrorism, kidnapping, and banditry were on the rise in the north, displacing families and communities.

The forum said in the north, especially in locations like Kwara, Southern Kaduna, Katsina, Benue and others, have faced severe security crises, which resulted in significant loss of lives and displacement.

In his welcome address at the 79th National Executive Committee (NEC) held in Kaduna, ACF chairman, Mamman Mike Osuman, SAN, decried that the displacements of people have resulted in overcrowded camps and informal settlements with limited access to basic services, increasing the risks of malnutrition and mortality among survivors in the north.

The ACF chairman accused politicians of focusing their attention on the 2027 elections rather than tackling the insecurity, poverty and out-of-school children challenges facing the region.

He said the North was experiencing one of the most difficult times in its history, occasioned by terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and poverty, among other challenges.

Osuman noted that insecurity has deepened to the point that external military assistance has been required.

“Our individual and collective approach must be sincere, genuine, and purposeful with the downtrodden people of our region and our country as our central focus. We must disabuse our minds of persuasions that seek only to promote momentary, selfish and primordial interests.

“This election season has produced convoluted groups whose focus is not on out-of-school children, hunger, poverty, frequent attacks by kidnappers, banditry or terrorism, but rather on strategies for repositioning ahead of the 2027 elections”, he said.

The forum stated, “Since our last meeting on 21 August 2025, our region has continued to face grave difficulties – natural disasters, tragic loss of lives, and the harsh vicissitudes of daily existence.

“Terrorism, armed banditry, insurgency and kidnapping are on the rise as witnessed in Kwara, Southern Kaduna, Katsina, Benue and other locations. The consequences have been devastating, with families and communities violently uprooted and displaced.

ACF added, “Repeated attacks and the climate of fear have disrupted education, leading to school closures across affected areas. Rural economies have been severely strained, travel has become unsafe, and access to farming, schooling and healthcare has been discouraged. Insecurity has deepened to such an extent that external military assistance has been required,” the forum said.