The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has vehemently condemned the brutal ambush and killing of over 20 Nigerian soldiers near Bangi, Niger State, characterizing the attack as a stark illustration of the complete collapse of security in Northern Nigeria. The incident, occurring on June 24, 2025, is not merely an isolated event but a blatant declaration of war against the Nigerian state, a war the NEF argues the state is demonstrably losing. The Forum, through its spokesperson Professor Abubakar Jiddere, expressed profound outrage, labeling the massacre as barbaric and declaring the North under siege by emboldened terrorist groups operating with impunity. The NEF emphasized the systematic nature of the violence, highlighting the escalating pattern of attacks throughout June 2025 across various Northern states, including Benue, Plateau, Kwara, Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, Borno, and now Niger.
The NEF’s statement paints a grim picture of a region ravaged by unrelenting terror, mass murder, and a palpable failure of the state to uphold its constitutional duty to protect its citizens. The Forum underscores the devastating impact on communities, with entire villages being eradicated, homes destroyed, and countless lives shattered. The terrorists, they argue, operate freely, unchallenged and unpunished, highlighting the government’s apparent inability or unwillingness to effectively address the escalating crisis. The NEF accuses the government of abject failure, portraying a North drowning in blood, its people abandoned, and its security forces either incapable of responding or conspicuously absent.
The Forum unequivocally rejects what it perceives as the government’s inadequate response, dismissing hollow condolences, tired speeches, and sterile press releases as insufficient and unacceptable. They demand immediate, visible, aggressive, and accountable action to address the security crisis. The NEF warns that continued inaction by the federal government will inevitably lead to the belief, justified or not, that the government is either deliberately neglecting its duty or, worse, complicit in the violence. The Forum stresses that the people deserve more than empty gestures; they demand concrete action and tangible results.
The NEF’s demands include the immediate declaration of a State of Emergency on security throughout Northern Nigeria. This declaration, they argue, must be followed by decisive, coordinated military and intelligence operations aimed at eradicating all terrorist and armed groups threatening the region, regardless of their affiliations or operational bases. The Forum emphasizes that the lives of Northern Nigerians are not expendable, their soldiers are not mere fodder for war, and their citizens will not continue to be silent victims while the government remains passive. They demand a comprehensive and effective response to the ongoing violence.
The Forum issues a stark warning that continued federal inaction will provoke open resistance from the people, whose patience has reached its limit. The NEF challenges the legitimacy of any government unable or unwilling to protect its citizens, declaring that enough is enough. They pledge to break their silence, asserting that the North will not succumb to terror. This declaration signifies a growing frustration and disillusionment with the government’s handling of the security crisis, hinting at potential civil unrest if the situation remains unaddressed.
In essence, the NEF’s statement is a cry of anguish and a call to action. It is a stark indictment of the government’s perceived failure to protect its citizens and a desperate plea for immediate and decisive intervention to stem the tide of violence engulfing Northern Nigeria. The Forum’s strong words and explicit warnings underscore the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for a comprehensive and effective response to the ongoing security crisis. The NEF’s declaration that the North will not kneel before terror signifies a resolve to resist the violence and protect their communities, even if it means challenging the authority of the government itself. The statement represents a critical juncture in the relationship between the North and the federal government, with the potential for significant consequences if the security crisis remains unresolved.
