AREWA GROUP ISSUES STRONG CONDEMNATION

AREWA GROUP ISSUES STRONG CONDEMNATION
The Arewa Discussion Group (ADG) a prominent northern socio-political organisation has publicly condemned the resurgence of terrorist attacks across several northern Nigerian states, describing the recent violence as “horrifying” and a dramatic failure of local and regional security systems. In a statement issued from Ilorin and signed by ADG spokesperson Dr. Garba Abari on behalf of chairman Alhaji Maisudan Bello, the group expressed deep concern over recent attacks and abductions in Kwara, Katsina, and Kaduna states among other areas. ADG highlighted what it called “brazen attacks” on communities that had previously entered truces with armed elements labeling such truces as ineffective and naïve and arguing they have emboldened criminals rather than secured peace.
The group said that mere condemnation is now insufficient, and reiterated urgent calls for a total overhaul of the region’s security strategy, with emphasis on concrete, effective, and sustainable action rather than rhetoric. Recent attacks in the Woro and Nuku communities (Kaiama LGA) left dozens of residents dead and homes burned, prompting grief, outrage, and intense calls for decisive government action. Kwara Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq confirmed at least 75 residents killed in these assaults by suspected terrorists and commiserated with affected families and traditional leaders. ADG cited continuing violent incidents in Faskari (Katsina) and Kajuru (Kaduna) as examples of the expanding insecurity and the failure of local truce agreements to protect communities.
National security analysts and local communities have raised alarms over cross-border armed group movements, often exploiting porous routes linking northern states and ungoverned terrains.
Security commentators and human rights groups have highlighted a sharp rise in terror-related violence and displacement across northern Nigeria in recent weeks and months:
Independent investigations show a significant spike in attacks, killings, and abductions across Kwara, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, and Zamfara states, with hundreds killed and many more kidnapped in a series of coordinated raids.
These trends underline what many civil society and regional organisations see as a deterioration in state capacity to protect rural communities from well-armed non-state actors.
The Arewa group’s condemnation aligns with broader northern leadership concerns expressed in recent months:
Northern political leaders and civic groups have repeatedly called for urgent review and overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, including proposals for state police, enhanced intelligence cooperation, and inter-agency strategic reforms.
Some have even demanded state of emergency declarations and removal or reshuffling of national service chiefs in response to persistent terror threats. ADG’s statement underscores that the group believes incremental measures and piecemeal responses are no longer sufficient and that bold structural change is required if northern communities are to find lasting peace.