The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has urged the federal government to put an end to the killings in Plateau State, adding that the government should compensate the families affected and offer support to those injured.
In the statement released by Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the national publicity secretary of the forum, the forum mourned the disheartening deaths of several people, including children, on the 28th of March, 2025.
They described the attacks as deeply disturbing and called for a declaration of a state of emergency in the affected areas to reduce the growth of insecurity.
“The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is ineffably saddened at the disheartening and frightening attacks by terror gangs on defenseless communities in Plateau State, on 28th March, 2025, and which resulted on the tragic deaths of scores of people including children, adding to dismal statistics of deaths, injuries and property damage arising consequent to rampaging terror activities of bandits on communities over the last few years,” the statement read.
“ACF deeply mourns the dead and unequivocally condemns the attacks. The Forum particularly extends sympathy and condolence to the affected communities, the Government and people of Plateau State.
“The Forum identifies with the deep pains of families of the victims, prays to God to grant the deceased eternal rest, for surviving victims to be fortified with strength to bear the losses and for quick return to full health for all who suffered injuries.”
The Forum called on the federal government to make more efforts to stop the killings in Arewa communities and Nigeria at large.
“To the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), constitutionally responsible for the protection of lives and properties of citizens, ACF wishes to draw attention, for the umpteenth time, to the deterioration in the state of security in Arewa communities and elsewhere in Nigeria,” the statement read.
“ACF reiterates its long-standing stance that every new such experiences is one too many. Clearly, the people are in great pains, with their situation compounded by existential economic challenges. The killing spree on the Plateau must be stopped immediately and peace must return to the State.”
They urged government to intensify their efforts in gathering information in order the establish the causes of these attack’s and deliberate on how to put an end these crimes.
“Government should intensify efforts in actionable intelligence gathering, processing and deployment by relevant all security agencies so as to establish the immediate and remote causes of the latest skirmishes, investigate, identify, arrest and prosecute perpetrators and enablers of the attacks;
“FGN and Plateau State Government to empower community leaders, elders, clergy, traditional leaders, civil society organizations and other stakeholders to embark on community dialogue for conflict resolution, reconciliation and cooperation. All must intensify conflict resolution efforts;
They also encouraged citizens and all national security agencies to offer credible support and information that will assist in apprehending criminals and curbing insurgency.
“Citizens should avail the security agencies with credible information on the activities of insurgents and criminals; and members of the National Assembly to do more to hold the FGN and the National Security Agencies to account and to demand concrete evidence of a firm resolve to exterminate the current terror on citizens,” the statement added.
“While, reiterating unalloyed support for the FGN, the Plateau State Government and all National Security Agencies in the fight against insecurity in Nigeria, ACF calls on all to up the ante in the fight against threats to the wellbeing of all Nigerian citizens.”
