By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna The Arewa Cohesion for Unity, Peace and Development Initiative, ACI, has resolved to move beyond t...
The Arewa Cohesion for Unity, Peace and Development Initiative, ACI, has resolved to move beyond talkshops and communiqués, unveiling what it described as an enforcement-driven framework to confront insecurity across Northern Nigeria.
Speaking at a security summit convened by the group in Kaduna on Wednesday, ACI Director-General, Dr. Abdullahi Idris, said the initiative was designed to produce “workable, actionable solutions” by bringing together security experts, traditional rulers, youth and women groups, civil society organizations, and ordinary citizens.
According to him, what distinguishes this intervention from previous efforts is follow-through. At the end of the summit, ACI will issue a communiqué outlining specific responsibilities for federal, state and local governments, as well as for civil society and community groups. The organization will then engage each stakeholder individually to monitor compliance.
“This initiative will endure even after this. It is not going to be a talk show where papers are presented, big grammar, and we disperse,” Dr. Idris told participants.
To sustain momentum, ACI said it will set up a dedicated monitoring desk at its secretariat, train and deploy peace and youth ambassadors, and carry out outreach every quarter across the North, not limited to Kaduna.
Root causes beyond guns
Dr. Idris identified unemployment, poverty, drug abuse and the Almajiri system as the key drivers of insecurity, arguing that a purely kinetic response cannot end the crisis.
“The kinetic approach that government is using right now is okay, it’s good, it’s helpful, but it’s not enough,” he said.
“Any society where people cannot get employment, farmers cannot go to farm, businesses are dying, industries have collapsed, it’s a breeding ground for all sorts of anti-social behavior.”
He warned that Almajiri children across the region remain a vulnerable recruitment pool for insurgents and bandits, and called for urgent reforms to address the system.
On youth engagement, the ACI boss said the group is working directly with youth organizations to reach young people in their communities, rather than assembling them at central venues.
“It is more effective if you reach them where they are and you enlighten them, and you empower them, and you talk to them, and you counsel them,” he explained, noting that bringing potentially volatile youths to a single gathering could be counterproductive.
He described insecurity as the biggest challenge confronting the North and said the summit’s theme, “United Action Against Insecurity,” was a deliberate attempt to set aside religious and ethnic affiliations.
“Security is everybody’s business,” Dr. Idris said. “We are putting aside all our affiliations and looking squarely at the issue of insecurity. By the grace of God, we shall succeed.”
Leaders urged to prioritize security ahead of 2027
Delivering remarks as Special Guest, Hon. Dr. Muhammad Ali painted a grim picture of communities across Northern Nigeria that have suffered years of insurgency, banditry and violent attacks, with devastating effects on livelihoods, agriculture, education and local economies.
He criticized what he called inadequate and reactive responses by authorities, saying temporary interventions have failed to address the structural causes of insecurity.
Dr. Ali urged Northern leaders and citizens to demand greater accountability from those in authority, stressing that the protection of lives and property remains the primary responsibility of government.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, he called on voters to make security, peace and good governance the central criteria in choosing leaders.
“The region should prioritise leaders capable of restoring safety, justice and economic stability,” he said, “while rejecting politics driven by ethnic divisions, partisan interests and short-term incentives.”
Summit resolutions
At the close of the summit, participants reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional cooperation, promoting peaceful coexistence, and developing practical solutions to end kidnapping, killings and displacement across Northern Nigeria.
They also resolved to sustain dialogue among governments, traditional institutions, religious leaders, civil society organizations and local communities as part of a coordinated effort to restore lasting peace in the region.
ACI officials said the monitoring desk and quarterly engagements will begin immediately, with the first round of community outreach scheduled for the coming months.
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