The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has condemned leaders in the region alleged to be aiding and abetting the Boko Haram insurgents currently wrecking havoc on the people of the North-East and parts of northern states.
The Nigerian Army had raised the alarm on Friday accusing some unnamed prominent politicians and groups from the North-East of meeting marabouts to reverse the gains already recorded in the fight against the insurgents in the area by the military.
A statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman had said that “the Nigerian Army wishes to inform the public and send a very strong and serious final warning to some prominent individuals and political groups who hail from Borno state in particular and Northeast generally, that there is information of plans by some highly placed individuals and political groups to undermine and scuttle the fight against terrorism and insurgency in this country.
The unscrupulous individuals and their cohorts are determined to reverse the gains made and scuttle our efforts of achieving the Presidential directive to defeat Boko Haram terrorists within three 3 months”.
Miffed by the development, ACF demanded a thorough investigation into the allegation and asked the military to expose all those behind such nefarious acts.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Forum, Muhammad Ibrahim in a statement today in Kaduna, noted that the northern body considered those behind such devilish act as simply “wicked.”
The ACF added that it considered the alarm raised by the Army as grave, disturbing and worrisome, considering the efforts being put by the military and other security agencies to end the insurgency in the northeast region.
The Forum said: “It is callous, wicked and unfortunate that some prominent individuals places their personal benefits above national interest, the daily killings of innocent lives and destruction of property as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency in the last six years.
“ACF urges the military to thoroughly investigate the clandestine activities and other diabolical efforts of these politicians, expose and prosecute them to serve as a deterrent to others. Nigeria cannot afford to treat such unscrupulous groups or individuals with kid gloves at this material time that all hands are on deck to restore peace and order in the Northeast subregion and the country in general.
“ACF will support and encourage the military to take any lawful action against the so called prominent elders and politicians undermining the effort of the Federal Government to combat terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria.”
