The North-West Youth Unity Forum (NYUF) has called on the Federal Government to adopt decisive and strategic measures to tackle the worsening security situation across northern Nigeria.
The group also issued a 30-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address the persistent insecurity ravaging the region, warning that it would explore all lawful means to hold authorities accountable if the situation remains unresolved.
The position of the forum was contained in a communiqué signed by its Chairman, Murtala Ishaqa Jangebe, and made available to journalists in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.
The group urged the Federal Government to officially designate Boko Haram and other terrorist groups as illegal organisations, citing the continued killings, displacement of innocent citizens and destruction of property carried out by the insurgents.
According to the forum, communities across the North-West have continued to suffer attacks, kidnappings, rape, cattle rustling and mass displacement as a result of growing insecurity in the region.
It lamented that billions of naira have been paid as ransom by families seeking the release of kidnapped relatives, while hundreds of communities have been deserted as residents flee to safer areas, including state capitals and local government headquarters.
The forum further decried the poor condition of roads linking states in the North-West, describing many routes as unsafe for commuters due to frequent attacks by armed groups.
It stated that several communities in the region have become difficult and unsafe places to live because of the activities of bandits and terrorists.
The communiqué also called on governors of North-West states including Jigawa, Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara to immediately recruit and equip forest guards as part of efforts to combat criminal activities in forests and rural communities.
The group stressed that the proposed forest guards should be adequately armed and supported to strengthen local security architecture and assist conventional security agencies in ending banditry and other violent crimes across the region.
