Nigeria’s Security Crisis Has Reached  State of  War Level – ACF Warns Federal Government

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has raised a fresh alarm over Nigeria’s worsening security situation, declaring that the country’s security challenges have escalated to what it described as a state of war, and calling for urgent, extraordinary measures from the Federal Government.

The warning was issued after a high-level meeting of the forum’s Board of Trustees held in Abuja, where northern leaders reviewed the growing wave of insecurity across different regions of the country.

The ACF noted that the nature and spread of insecurity in Nigeria has gone far beyond isolated criminal activity, pointing to persistent attacks by insurgents, armed bandits, and violent communal clashes.

According to the forum, the situation now includes:

Continued terrorism-related activities in parts of the North-East

Widespread banditry, kidnappings, and rural attacks in the North-West and North-Central

Recurring farmer-herder and communal conflicts affecting multiple communities

The group warned that the scale and frequency of these incidents have created conditions that resemble an active conflict environment rather than ordinary internal security challenges.

The Arewa Consultative Forum urged the Federal Government to adopt what it described as a wartime approach to national security.

It called for:

Immediate prioritisation of security over other national expenditures

Stronger deployment of intelligence and military resources

Emergency-style coordination among security agencies

A review of national spending to focus on restoring stability

The forum stressed that without urgent intervention, insecurity could further undermine governance, economic stability, and social cohesion.

The ACF also expressed concern over the heavy human and economic cost of the crisis. It noted that thousands of lives have been lost in recent years, while many communities have been displaced or severely affected by ongoing violence.

Agricultural activities, particularly in rural northern areas, have been disrupted, contributing to food insecurity and rising economic pressure across the country.

The forum insists that only urgent and decisive action can prevent further deterioration of stability across the country.