Northern Elders Forum Condemns Brutal Killing of Soldiers, Calls for State of Emergency

Strategic Insights -

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has expressed outrage over the killing of more than 20 Nigerian soldiers in a terrorist ambush near Bangi, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State, describing the attack as a declaration of war against the Nigerian state. The Forum condemned the massacre in the strongest possible terms, declaring that the North is "under siege" from terrorist groups who now operate with impunity across the region. NEF spokesperson Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere stated that the attack is not just an isolated incident but a clear indication of the state's failure to protect its citizens.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Northern Elders Forum has condemned the brutal killing of more than 20 Nigerian soldiers in a terrorist ambush near Bangi, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.
  • The Forum described the attack as a declaration of war against the Nigerian state and a clear indication of the state's failure to protect its citizens.
  • NEF spokesperson Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere stated that the North is "under siege" from terrorist groups who now operate with impunity across the region.
  • The Forum demanded an immediate declaration of a State of Emergency on security across Northern Nigeria.
  • The NEF warned that the continued federal inaction will provoke open resistance and that the legitimacy of any government that cannot or will not protect its citizens is gone.
  • The Forum specified that the North will not kneel before terror and that the patience of the people has run out.

Statistics:

  • More than 20 Nigerian soldiers were killed in the terrorist ambush.
  • The attack was described as a brazen, coordinated ambush that completely overwhelmed the base.
  • The Northern Elders Forum stated that entire communities are being wiped out, homes torched, lives shattered, and the killers roam freely, unchallenged, and unpunished.
  • The NEF warned that the Nigerian government has failed abysmally and consistently in its constitutional duty to protect lives and property.

Sources:

  • "Northern Elders Forum Slams Buhari Over Terror Attack in Niger State." Channels Television, June 2025.
  • "‘Enough is Enough’: Northern Elders Condemn Massacre of Soldiers." Vanguard News, June 2025.