…Laments killing of 20 soldiers.
…Says, region in war.
by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency across the northern states, due to the escalating insecurity that continues to threaten lives and disrupt communities in the region.
NEF expressed sorrow and disappointment over the recent killing of over 20 Nigerian soldiers in a deadly ambush by heavily-armed attackers in Bangi, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.
The incident, according to the Forum, which caught the troops unprepared, has been described as one of the deadliest strikes against the country’s military in recent memory.
In a press release issued by its spokesperson, Professor Abubakar Jiddere, the NEF described the incident as evidence of a near-total collapse of security structures in the North.
He stated that the brazen and gruesome manner in which the attack was executed reflected an alarming intensification of violence and posed a direct affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty.
According to Professor Jiddere, the manner in which the assailants carried out the ambush indicated a high level of planning and coordination, suggesting that these criminal networks are not simply scattered groups but are engaged in an organized offensive against the nation.
He remarked that the northern region has effectively turned into a war zone where residents live under the shadow of fear, while organized gangs continue to seize communities.
Accordingly, forum recounted the tragic ambush in stark terms, stating, “More than twenty courageous soldiers, who pledged to safeguard the nation, were brutally slain by armed militants who launched a meticulously coordinated and bold attack. This was not an isolated assault but a chilling demonstration of dominance meant to instill fear.”
The body of elders urged the federal authorities to recognize the current insecurity as an urgent national disaster requiring immediate and thorough military intervention to hunt down the culprits and restore law and order.
The elders also recommended restructuring of the existing security framework, stressing that the current system has failed to effectively shield civilians and security forces from escalating and complex threats.
The Forum called on President Tinubu to exhibit decisive leadership by making the protection of citizens a top priority, especially for those in the North who continue to face violence, kidnappings, and frequent massacres.
They maintained that unless the federal government confronts the underlying causes and backers of terrorism with firm measures, the northern region will remain trapped in turmoil.
His words: “This is not just an attack, it is a declaration of war against the Nigerian state, and the state is losing,” he stated.
In the statement, the Forum was, however, silent on the recent massacre in Benue State where over 200, including women and children, were sent to their early grave by insurgents.