Alhaji Bashir Muhammad Dalhatu, the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has said insecurity, banditry and other social vices are great threats to the lives and livelihoods of residents of Northern Nigeria. He made the remarks when he led a delegation to visit and sympathize with the people of Borno State over the recent Maiduguri flood disaster.
Dalhatu also cautioned that a lot of the actions being taken by government and other stakeholders over the last decade have not eased the situation but in many cases, only made them worse.
“Our position is further worsened by the insurgency and banditry that even stop our people from going to farm. We have many farmers that can’t access their farms and we no longer produce the food we eat; we have millions of out-of-school children, Aljamaria and begging has become very social ills and if you put all these together, you can understand we are in a very serious dire situation.
“If nothing is done, this can expand, grow and threaten our own existence. 10 years ago, there was no single bandit in the North West for example, today most of the states in the North West have got banditry situations.
“We are frightening of the possibility that this can grow in the next five years to come, we don’t know what can happen to our existence in the Northern Nigeria until very serious, urgent, positive, and definite action that’s going be directed squarely to bring these ills to an end as soon as possible,” he said.
“So far, we realise the dangers in which all of us are. Also, we realise that the danger will be really unimaginable. So, the ACF has put together experienced and knowledgeable people to seat and look at all so that we can bring to the attention of the 19 northern governors who will then take our concern to the federal government for immediate actions.
“Those actions being taken so far in the last 15 years apparently have not been able to stop insurgency. Therefore, we need to think differently and that’s what our own group experts are now doing and will soon produce their reports onward for transmission to the 19 northern state governors.
“You can be rest assured that this time around, Insha Allah action that will be taken will be far more effective and attitude will be instilled, hopefully we will see the end of these problems,” he said.
