The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has issued a damning indictment of Nigeria’s security apparatus following the slaughter of more than 20 soldiers in a brazen terrorist ambush near Bangi, Niger State, last Tuesday. The attack, described by the Forum as a “declaration of war,” has laid bare the near-total collapse of security in Northern Nigeria, raising urgent questions about the government’s ability—or willingness—to protect its citizens.
The ambush, which targeted a military outpost in Mariga Local Government Area, saw well-armed insurgents overwhelm Nigerian troops in a meticulously coordinated assault. Eyewitness accounts suggest the attackers struck with ruthless efficiency, leaving no room for defense or retreat. The bodies of the slain soldiers were reportedly recovered in gruesome conditions, some mutilated beyond recognition.
This latest bloodshed is not an isolated incident but part of a broader wave of terror sweeping across Northern Nigeria. Throughout June 2025, states including Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Borno have witnessed near-daily massacres, with entire villages razed and civilians executed in cold blood.
In a blistering statement signed by spokesperson Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere, the NEF declared that Northern Nigeria is now “under siege,” with terrorists operating freely while security forces appear powerless—or absent—to stop them.
“This is not mere insecurity; it is an unrelenting campaign of terror, mass murder, and state failure,” the statement read. “Entire communities are being wiped out, homes torched, and lives shattered while the killers roam unchallenged. The Nigerian government has failed in its most basic duty: protecting its people.”
The Forum minced no words in accusing the Federal Government of negligence, demanding an immediate State of Emergency on Security across Northern Nigeria.
The NEF’s outrage reflects growing frustration among Northern leaders and citizens alike, who see the government’s response as inadequate, if not outright indifferent. Despite repeated promises of intensified military operations, terrorist factions—including Boko Haram splinter groups, bandits, and foreign-linked jihadists—continue to expand their territorial control.
Security analysts warn that the military is dangerously overstretched, with troops deployed across multiple flashpoints without sufficient manpower, equipment, or intelligence support. Corruption, poor coordination among security agencies, and alleged political interference have further crippled counterterrorism efforts.
“If the government continues to delay or downplay this crisis, Nigerians will have no choice but to believe this inaction is willful—or worse, complicit,” the NEF warned.
With each new massacre, public confidence in the government erodes further. Civil society groups, religious leaders, and even retired military officers have joined the chorus demanding urgent action.
For the families of the slain soldiers and the thousands displaced by violence, the question is no longer if the government will act—but whether it is already too late.
As the death toll rises, one thing is clear: Nigeria’s security crisis has reached a tipping point, and the time for empty promises is over.
