ACF Urges Security Overhaul Amid Rising Extremist Attacks

The apex northern socio-cultural organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called for total overhaul of national security strategies to Nigeria’s slide into anarchy from extremism and insurgency.

In a statement issued by ACF national publicity secretary, Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba, on Wednesday over recent Maiduguri bomb explosions, the forum said the time to act on the ravaging insecurity was now by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

The statement further said the totality of the sordid incidents suggested a coordinated strategy by extremist terror merchants intent on disrupting the semblance of normality that communities have been managing.

According to ACF, 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”

“The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is gravely saddened to receive the recent highly disturbing news of a tragic insecurity incidents at Borno and Plateau states. Earlier, similar attacks in Katsina, Kwara, Niger, Zamfara and other states had also been recorded.

“The bomb blast at 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, days earlier in Plateau State, yet more violent gun attacks on communities took place, followed by the killing of military personnel by criminal elements. Earlier incidents in Katsina, Kwara, Niger, and Zamfara states have 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.

“Irked by it all, ACF unequivocally condemns the dastardly and evil attacks and extends condolences as well as commiserates with all victims, the Government and people of Nigeria, the armed forces from the losses and injuries to hapless citizens Borno, Plateau and all other states being menaced by such scale of horrific violence from misbegotten terrorists operating in whatever guise.

“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 wreck misery on hapless communities.

“While not unmindful of efforts from relevant federal and state agencies to the tragedy but warns that a lot more needs to be done. More doubling down on the efforts to exterminate the insecurity, extremism and banditry scourge is clearly indicated and less on politicking. Ultimately, demonstrable force and political will, in absolute and uncompromising terms, must be used to confront terror merchants wherever they are.”