The Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners Forum (ABMPF) has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on security in Northern Nigeria, while urging communities to identify and expose informants and collaborators aiding criminal elements.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the Chairman of the Forum, Abdullahi Yelwa, commended the sacrifices of military personnel and intelligence officers who continue to risk their lives in the fight against insecurity.
Yelwa said recent incidents, including the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State and the death of Major General Abubakar Rabe in captivity, had once again drawn national attention to the country’s security challenges.
He lamented that persistent attacks by terrorists and bandits had devastated many communities, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes and seek refuge in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
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According to him, media practitioners in Northern Nigeria witness the consequences of insecurity daily, often serving as first responders to attacks and documenting the plight of victims.
The forum recalled that during its security summit in Kebbi State in November 2025, it raised concerns about the deteriorating security situation.
It noted that the crisis had worsened in 2026, with coordinated attacks on military formations and deadly assaults across the North-East, North-Central and North-West regions.
“Existing institutional, material and strategic interventions have failed to stem the rising tide of violence,” the forum warned.
It therefore urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on security in the North, backed by clearly defined tactical and strategic measures with specific timelines for restoring peace.
While applauding the creation of state police and forest guards as complementary measures, the forum stressed that only the large-scale deployment of conventional military forces could effectively dislodge criminals from their forest hideouts and create an enabling environment for the new security structures to operate.
The ABMPF also expressed concern over the impact of insecurity, climate change and government policies on agriculture, citing studies that indicate a 25 to 50 per cent decline in crop yields across the region.
The forum highlighted the education crisis, noting that between 80 and 90 per cent of out-of-school children in Nigeria are from the North, while about 65 per cent of the country’s multidimensionally poor population resides in the region.
On politics, the forum said the North’s diversity had historically been a source of strength and unity but lamented that contemporary politics had become dominated by self-interest and divisive tendencies.
“The North’s diversity has historically been a source of strength and unity,” the forum stated, urging voters to reject politicians who exploit ethnic and religious differences for personal gain.
The forum further decried rising poverty and the collapse of industries across the region, calling on governments and stakeholders to develop a comprehensive economic blueprint for Northern Nigeria.
It commended the Benue State Government’s efforts to promote orange-processing industries and encouraged other states to invest in sectors where they possess comparative advantages to stimulate job creation and curb youth unemployment and drug abuse.
ABMPF also urged northern governors to prioritise human capital development over infrastructure projects such as flyovers and called on the Federal Government to establish a functional railway network across the region.
Yelwa assured governments at all levels of the forum’s readiness to partner in addressing the security, economic and developmental challenges confronting Northern Nigeria.
The forum also presented a posthumous award to the sister of the late Professor Ladi Adamu in recognition of her humility and service during her lifetime.
