Iliyasu S. Yahaya
The Middle Belt Elders Forum has rejected a joint security framework with the North, citing concerns over terrorist sympathies among core northern governors and groups. The forum’s president, Pogu Bitrus, expressed frustration with the federal government’s efforts to tackle insecurity, pointing out that key security positions are held by individuals from the Fulani ethnic group, which has been linked to terrorist activities in the region.
The Middle Belt Forum has long advocated for a separate identity and greater autonomy, arguing that the region has been marginalized and subjected to “genocidal ethnic cleansing” by dominant ethnic groups in the North. The forum’s rejection of the joint security framework is seen as a significant development in the ongoing debate over Nigeria’s restructuring and security challenges.
The North has been plagued by insecurity, with frequent attacks by bandits and terrorists, prompting calls for a unified security approach. However, the Middle Belt Forum’s rejection of the joint framework highlights the deep-seated mistrust and divisions within the region.
