Citing escalating violence, banditry, kidnappings, and widespread insecurity across the northern region and beyond, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has issued a stern call to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu: Nigeria is bleeding, and immediate extraordinary measures are required to stem the tide of chaos.
In a strongly worded statement issued today, the Forum warned that the nation’s security architecture is overstretched, under-resourced, and increasingly unable to protect lives and property. The elders described the current situation as a national emergency that demands bold, decisive leadership from the Federal Government.
“The Northern Elders Forum therefore calls on the Federal Government to immediately declare a National Security Emergency and implement extraordinary measures to reverse the current trajectory,” the statement read in part.
The NEF highlighted the relentless attacks on communities, the killing of security personnel, the abduction of citizens including schoolchildren, and the growing sense of fear and helplessness among the populace. They noted that despite ongoing military operations, insecurity continues to intensify, threatening not only the North but the stability of the entire country.
“Nigeria is bleeding. The persistent failure to decisively tackle this crisis is pushing the nation toward the brink,” the elders emphasized. They urged the President to mobilize all necessary resources, review and strengthen security strategies, ensure accountability within the security apparatus, and engage all relevant stakeholders in a comprehensive response.
The Forum expressed deep concern over the human and economic cost of the insecurity, which has led to displacement, disrupted agriculture, closed schools, and eroded public confidence in governance.
The Northern Elders Forum called on President Tinubu to act without delay, describing the declaration of a national security emergency as a critical first step toward restoring peace, protecting citizens, and rebuilding trust in Nigeria’s institutions.