Northern Leaders Raise Alarm Over Killings, Warn of Plot to Destabilise 2027 Polls

 

The Arewa Discussion Group (ADG) has condemned the recent wave of killings and terrorist attacks across northern Nigeria, warning that the pattern of violence may be part of a wider plot to destabilise the region ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued by its spokesman, Dr. Garba Abari, on behalf of the group’s chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Bello Maisudan, the forum expressed shock over what it described as coordinated and escalating attacks on innocent civilians, particularly during the Ramadan period.

“We are profoundly shocked and outraged by the recent spate of heinous attacks and mass killings targeting civilians across northern Nigeria,” Abari said, while extending condolences to affected families and communities.

The group cited several recent incidents, including the killing of no fewer than 50 villagers in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State, where gunmen reportedly stormed Tungan Dutse community for hours, burning homes and abducting residents.

In Kebbi State, ADG decried the attack on a mosque in Maiyama Local Government Area during Tarawih prayers, describing it as a “desecration of a sacred period,” while noting that worshippers were killed in cold blood.

The group also referenced the resurgence of bomb attacks in Borno State, particularly in Maiduguri, where multiple explosions during the Iftar period reportedly claimed over 20 lives and left scores injured.

Beyond these incidents, the forum said insecurity has worsened across several northern states, including Bauchi, Benue, Plateau, Niger and Kwara, with recurring cases of killings, abductions and mass displacement.

According to the statement, “The northern region is now under systematic siege by criminal non-state actors who operate with impunity and threaten the survival of our communities.”

It noted that in parts of Bauchi and Plateau states, entire communities have been deserted due to repeated attacks, while in Niger State, hundreds of thousands of residents have been displaced by persistent violence.

In Kwara South, the group said farmers have abandoned their farmlands due to fear of attacks, warning that the development could worsen economic hardship and food insecurity.

ADG further raised concern over what it described as the erosion of state authority, alleging that criminal groups now control territories, dictate movement, and carry out attacks with little resistance.

“When criminals attack worshippers at prayer and ambush security personnel successfully, it shows a dangerous weakening of state control,” the statement added.

The group warned that the timing and spread of the attacks across the region suggest a deliberate attempt to create fear and instability ahead of the next general elections.

“We believe desperate elements are trying to undermine the security situation so that anti-democratic forces can exploit the chaos and subvert the will of the people,” Abari stated.

It cautioned that continued insecurity could discourage voter participation and threaten the credibility of the 2027 polls if not urgently addressed.

The group called on the Federal Government to intensify security operations across affected areas, dismantle criminal enclaves, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

It also urged authorities to provide urgent humanitarian support for displaced persons and victims of attacks, while stressing the need to safeguard the integrity of future elections.

“The current wave of violence fits a disturbing pattern of creating fear that can be used to suppress voter turnout and weaken democracy,” the group warned.

ADG, however, called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and united, insisting that efforts to destabilise the country must be resisted.

“We stand in solidarity with the people during this difficult time and urge all citizens to resist forces seeking to undermine our democracy through violence and intimidation,” the statement said.