We Expect Insecurity, Banditry To End By 2026 – Northern Elders Forum Tells Tinubu Government

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has expressed optimism that the wave of insecurity ravaging Nigeria will be defeated by 2026, even as it urged the President Bola Tinubu-led government to adopt a more coordinated strategy in tackling the crisis.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, NEF spokesperson, Prof Abubakar Jiddere, lamented the devastating impact of banditry, terrorism, and kidnappings on the economy and social life in the North.

He stressed that persistent violence had stifled growth and discouraged investment across the region.

Jiddere called on northern governors to strengthen collaboration and work closely with security agencies, while urging the military to intensify operations aimed at stamping out violent groups.

He further appealed to prominent northerners to support initiatives designed to restore peace and economic vibrancy.

While acknowledging ongoing military campaigns, Jiddere maintained that defeating insecurity would require a blend of force and diplomacy.

According to him, “the government must combine kinetic action with dialogue and other non-violent measures to win lasting peace.”

“In the 60s, 70s, and 80s, northern Nigeria played a central role in powering this country’s economy; agriculture, industry, and trade flourished.

“Our groundnut pyramid reached the skies. Our cotton, livestock, and solid minerals supported industries,” he stated.

“Over the years, however, new challenges have emerged, ranging from insecurity to under-investment. The non-kinetic approach of our [former] President [Umaru] Yar’Adua was able to bring to an end, reasonably, the problems in the then Niger Delta, which was a very serious matter, much worse than the current insecurity in northern Nigeria.

“On insecurity, the Federal Government is on it. By the grace of God, in the next year, it will be a matter of history.

“How can the youths of northern Nigeria inherit uncertainty when their land holds enough to build a future?

“This summit is about turning that paradox into opportunity and ensuring that northern Nigeria steps confidently into a new era of growth,” the spokesperson added.

The northern region is plagued by bandits and other criminal gangs who carry out attacks, despite the presence of security operatives in the area.

Last week, gunmen killed one man and abducted 18 women and children during a raid on Birnin Zarma village in Zamfara State.

Late last month, some residents, fleeing bandit attacks on three villages in neighbouring Gummi district, drowned when their boat capsized.

Similarly, gunmen killed at least 11 security personnel in an ambush in north-central Nigeria, as the region struggles with farmer-herder conflicts that have escalated into armed violence.

The Middle Belt region, including Benue and Plateau states, has for years suffered deadly attacks.