The forum said current measures being taken to end the insecurity challenges in the region were not working, and demanded for a thorough review.
The ACF made this known in a communique presented by Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, its National Publicity Secretary, at the end of its Board of Trustees meeting in Kaduna on Wednesday.
The high-level meeting had in attendance former governors, ministers, service chiefs, National Assembly members, retired senior public officers, academics, professionals and other patriotic citizens from the region.
The ACF criticised the current strategies against insurgents and bandits, stating that “other measures, even unconventional ones, need to be considered and tried.”
It resolved that Northerners must work towards fostering trust and unity among themselves, regardless of tribal or religious differences, and work together to effectively advocate for Northern interest.
The communiqué highlighted the severe security situation in Northern Nigeria, including heightened banditry, Boko Haram insurgency, and rising drug trafficking.
It also noted the abandonment of farmlands and the displacement of farmers due to violence, which has exacerbated food production challenges.
The meeting condemned the failure of current mitigation measures and demanded an immediate end to the crisis.
It also criticised the Nigerian government’s inability to protect its citizens from armed criminal elements, calling for urgent reform and community-driven defence models similar to the Civilian JTF in the North East.
The ACF also addressed the unprecedented cost of living crisis due to rising food and energy prices, which have further fuelled insecurity and violent crimes.
The forum also called for an aggressive anti-corruption campaign, noting that corruption was a key driver of poor governance in Nigeria, which is the root cause of many social and economic issues in the country.
The meeting dispelled any notion that the North is resistant to the calls for restructuring, saying the region is ready to consider all constitutional review proposals and use available resources to pursue its interests.
