By Fidel Ozugha
The continued deteriorating insecurity situation in the North is giving leaders in the zone sleepless nights. This abnormal existential problem was expressed on Wednesday during the meeting of Board of Trustees (BOT) of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) held in Kaduna.
The BOT Chairman of the socio-cultural organisation, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, Wazirin Dutse, raised serious concerns over the ugly narratives, and rising hostility against Northerners in other parts of the country. He therefore called for unity and decisive action to safeguard the region.
Those in attendance included four former governors: Ramalan Yero of Kaduna; Ahmed Makafi of Kaduna; Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano and Simon Lalong of Plateau. The former Minister of Information under former President Buhari,Lai Mohammed was also in attendance, likewise the former Army Spokesman, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, rtd. Equally former Secretary to the Federal Government, Babachir Lawal, as well the former Political Adviser to the Vice President, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed.
In his opening remarks, the BOT Chairman, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu noted that insecurity in the North has worsened not withstanding the efforts being made by security agencies. He expressed deep concern over the persistent killings in Plateau, Borno, Benue, Niger, Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, and other states
He drew attention to the alleged increasing attacks and discrimination against Northerners residing or travelling through Southern Nigeria, and declared the trend as unacceptable and a betrayal of the North’s age long hospitality.
The inability of Northerners to own property in the South, especially in the South East also worried Chairman Dalhatu. “The time has come for Northern authorities to reform land ownership systems to protect the interests of our people and prevent landlessness in the North.
“While we remain extremely grateful for the work done by these eminent members, we regret to observe that the situation, particularly that of insecurity in Northern Nigeria, has not improved; as a matter of fact, and despite the best efforts of our increasingly overstretched security forces, it has gotten worse and keeps deteriorating by the day.
“Senseless killings have persisted in parts of Plateau, Borno, Benue, Niger, Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara, and other parts of the North. In spite of this, we wish to assure all the people of the North of our determination to take all necessary measures in consultation and collaboration with our political, traditional, religious and other leaders to bring this crisis to an end in the shortest time possible.”
He condemned the growing hostility and attacks against Northerners that choose to live or pursue livelihoods in the southern states, adding, “Even innocent Northerners on journeys through southern states get killed or subjected to inhumane treatment, a tragedy which, unfortunately, successive administrations in this country have failed to stop.”
Charging the incumbent governors and legislators in the Northern states to carry through a comprehensive reform of the system of land ownership and control saying, he said the need for the land reform was self-evident, especially given the current mad scramble for land in the North by foreigners. ”Authorities in the North must ensure that Northerners do not become landless in their own territory.”
