…Urges FG to act beyond rhetorics insecurity
The Arewa Cohesion for Peace, Unity and Development Initiative (ACI), has declared that the promotion of division in the region would no longer be tolerated in the region.
It insisted that diversity must be celebrated while grievances are constructively addressed, and communities brought together for mutual respect, love and homogenous living.
ACI noted that for centuries, Northerners lived side by side across faiths, ethnicities, and cultures, emphasising that the people can no allow selfish politicians or profiteers of conflict to trump brothers against brothers, saying that dialogue must replace exclusion.
This was as it also tasked the federal government to as a matter of concern, stop addressing the worsening insecurity situation in the Northern region of the country with empty statements.
The ACI which marked the 2025 International Day of Peace,
particularly challenged the government to move decisively and act beyond rhetoric over the kidnappings, killings and unwarranted destruction of livelihoods in the region.
The Director General of ACI, Dr Abdullahi Idris, who stated these at a media briefing on Sunday, September 21, 2025, in Kaduna, said that history would not forgive Northern leaders if they fail to act decisively to halt the wave of killings, kidnappings and violent conflicts plaguing the region.
Idris noted that silence and selective engagements by leaders have worsened insecurity across states of the Northern region that included, Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Plateau, Benue and Taraba.
In the words of Idris; “It is disturbing that while armed groups continue to terrorize communities, some elites prefer staging flamboyant ceremonies instead of convening serious, solution-driven summits to end the crises.
“The time for complacency is over, the time for action is now, history will not forgive inaction when action was most needed.
“Today, our call is clear: Act Now for a Peaceful North. Act Now for a Peaceful Nigeria. Act Now for a Peaceful World,” he stressed.
The ACI DG said that the group was particularly worried over the refusal of security agencies to act decisively on intelligence at their disposal, leaving state governors handicapped and citizens abandoned.
Idris said peace must be defined as the presence of justice, opportunity and dignity, not just the absence of conflict, thus urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Northern governors to rise to the urgency of the moment by visiting victims, empowering security agencies to act on credible intelligence, and demonstrate real leadership.
He assured that ACI would continue to mobilise enlightenment campaigns across the North to promote good governance, active citizenship and community-driven peacebuilding.
