The Northern Elders Forum has expressed deep concern over the escalating insecurity in Northern Nigeria, calling for a holistic approach to tackle the issue.
They urged state governors in the region to collaborate with each other and the military to nip insecurity in the bud.
Addressing journalists on Monday in Abuja, spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum, Abubakar Jiddere, condemned the continued state of insecurity in the north, highlighting how it has negatively impacted economic development in the region.
Jiddere, a professor, also highlighted steps taken to revive economic development in the North, seeking the cooperation of well-meaning sons and daughters from the zone, to end insecurity and restore economic vibrancy.
He also expressed confidence in ongoing military efforts to end insecurity in the north and urged the government to combine kinetic with the carrot-and-stick approach in dealing with the situation.
His word: “In the 60s, 70s, and 80s, northern Nigeria played a central role in powering this country’s economy with Agriculture, industry, and trade flourished.
“Our groundnut pyramid reached the skies. Our cotton, livestock, and solid minerals supported industries,” he stated.
He further said, “Over the years, however, new challenges have emerged, ranging from insecurity to under-investment.
”The non-kinetic approach of our [former] President [Umaru] Yar’Adua was able to bring to an end, reasonably, the problems in the then Niger Delta, which was a very serious matter, much worse than the current insecurity in northern Nigeria.
”On insecurity, the Federal Government is on it. By the grace of God, in the next year, it will be a matter of history.
“How can the youths of northern Nigeria inherit uncertainty when their land holds enough to build a future.
“This summit is about turning that paradox into opportunity and ensuring that northern Nigeria steps confidently into a new era of growth,” the spokesperson added.
The northern region is plagued by bandits and other criminal gangs who carry out attacks, despite the presence of security operatives in the area.
Last week, gunmen killed one man and abducted 18 women and children during a raid on Birnin Zarma village in Zamfara State.
Late last month, some residents, fleeing bandit attacks on three villages in neighbouring Gummi district, drowned when their boat capsized.
Similarly, gunmen killed at least 11 security personnel in an ambush in north-central Nigeria, as the region struggles with farmer-herder conflicts that have escalated into armed violence.
The Middle Belt region, including Benue and Plateau states, has for years suffered deadly attacks.
