Northern progress impossible without tackling insecurity – Arewa group warns

The Arewa Restoration Alliance, a coalition of professionals from Northern Nigeria, has warned that the region will remain underdeveloped unless urgent steps are taken to address persistent security challenges.

Speaking after a meeting in Abuja on Thursday, the group urged residents of the North to support ongoing military operations aimed at restoring peace.

President of the Alliance, Muktar Danfulani, explained that insecurity has discouraged both local and foreign investors from considering the region for economic opportunities. He stressed the need for unity and backing of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa.

He applauded the military’s recent gains against insurgent groups.

“We want to commend the Armed Forces of Nigeria under the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa for the arrest of two leaders of Ansaru, an al-Qaeda franchise in Nigeria, Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, and Mahmud al-Nigeria, notoriously known as Mallam Mamuda.

“Abu Bara’a was the overall coordinator of the group’s sleeper cells across Nigeria and mastermind of several kidnappings and terrorist financing operations, while al-Nigeria headed the notorious ‘Mahmudawa’ faction of Ansaru based in and around Kainji National Park and trained in Libya under foreign jihadist instructors from Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria, specialising in weapons handling and IED fabrication.”

Danfulani also praised troops for their recent rescue operations.

“Meanwhile we commend troops who in separate operations across Sokoto and Adamawa States, rescued 23 kidnapped victims, including 17 girls abducted by bandits and six persons seized by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

“Similarly troops of Operation Hadin Kai repelled an attempted ambush by Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters along the Gubio–Damasak road in Borno State, killing 13 insurgents and recovering arms and ammunition.

“The attack, which occurred on Wednesday near Kareto in Mobbar Local Government Area, targeted a military convoy escorting humanitarian supplies to Damasak. The terrorists reportedly detonated two command Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) before opening fire on the convoy.”

The Alliance urged the military to intensify its efforts to deal decisively with criminal elements who refuse to surrender.

“We urge the Armed forces under our son, Gen. Musa to sustain the tempo and deal with individuals that refuse to surrender and give up arms,” the group added.